Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Tree
Origin
Madagascar
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, Canada, Mexico
Types
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Plains Cottonwood, Rio Grande cottonwood
Number of Varieties
85
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
bottomlands, Floodplain, Hardwood forests, Riverbanks
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-133-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
9-1
Sunset Zone
H2, 13, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
Habit
Upright/Erect
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm3,050.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm2,130.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Red, Green
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
White
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Yellow
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Gray Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Toothed curved and flat petiole
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Early Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
Keep ground moist, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season, Water daily during growing season, Water Deeply, Water more in summer
In Summer
Lots of watering
Ample Water
In Spring
Moderate
Ample Water
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove dead branches, Remove hanging branches
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
fertilize in growing season, Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Aphids, Borers, Caterpillars, Insects
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Flowers
Showy
-
Flower Petal Number
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
Sometimes
Sometimes
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Hummingbirds
-
Allergy
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Hay fever, Headache, Runny nose, sneezing
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Landscape Designing
Beauty Benefits
Skin Problems
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Forms dense stands, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shadow Tree, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife, Windbreak
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Anodyne, Anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, Febrifuge
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root
Inner Bark, Leaves, Seeds
Other Uses
Tea-like beverage can be brewed, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Biomass for fuel, Used as firewood, Used As Food
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees
Botanical Name
Euphorbia tithymaloides
POPULUS deltoides
Common Name
Devil's Backbone
Eastern Cottonwood
In Hindi
Devil's Backbone
Eastern Cottonwood
In German
Devil's Backbone
Eastern Cottonwood
In French
Backbone du Diable
Cottonwood Orient
In Spanish
El espinazo del diablo
Cottonwood del Este
In Greek
Devil's Backbone
Ανατολική Cottonwood
In Portuguese
Espinha do Diabo
Cottonwood Oriental
In Polish
Kręgosłup diabła
Eastern Cottonwood
In Latin
Narum diaboli
Orientalium Poplar
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Anthophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Dicotyledonae
Order
Malpighiales
Salicales
Family
Crassulaceae
Salicaceae
Genus
Euphorbia
Populus
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Euphorbieae
-
Subfamily
Euphorbioideae
Salicoideae
Number of Species
20003
1
27800
👆🏻