Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Shrub
Shrub
Origin
Madagascar
Southern Africa
Types
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Carissa bispinosa, Carissa carandas
Number of Varieties
820
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
Coastal Regions, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-139-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
12-9
Sunset Zone
H2, 13, 23, 24
H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Cushion/Mound-forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm60.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
White
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
-
Light Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Gray Green
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Elliptic and Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Shade areas
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Vegetative Reproduction
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering, Water daily during growing season, Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune to control growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
fertilize in growing season, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Insects, Red blotch, Scale, Spider mites, Thripes, Whiteflies
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Shade areas
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Hummingbirds
Birds
Allergy
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beautification, Bonsai, Cottage Garden, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Skin Problems
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
-
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root
Flowers, Fruits
Other Uses
Tea-like beverage can be brewed, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Edible, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
Botanical Name
Euphorbia tithymaloides
CARISSA macrocarpa
Common Name
Devil's Backbone
Carissia
In Hindi
Devil's Backbone
Carissa
In German
Devil's Backbone
carissa
In French
Backbone du Diable
carissa
In Spanish
El espinazo del diablo
carissa
In Greek
Devil's Backbone
carissa
In Portuguese
Espinha do Diabo
carissa
In Polish
Kręgosłup diabła
carissa
In Latin
Narum diaboli
carissa
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Gentianales
Family
Crassulaceae
Apocynaceae
Genus
Euphorbia
Carissa
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Euphorbieae
Carisseae
Subfamily
Euphorbioideae
Rauvolfioideae
Number of Species
2000100
1
27800
👆🏻