Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Herbs
Origin
Madagascar
Southeastern Asia
Types
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Ornamental Lemongrass , Citronella, Java Citronella , East Indian Lemongrass ,
Number of Varieties
85
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
tropical grasslands
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-138-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
9-1
Sunset Zone
H2, 13, 23, 24
H1, H2, 12, 13, 16, 17, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Clump-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
Yellow
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Tan
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Blue Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Blue Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Blue Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Gray Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Long and slender with very sharp edges
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
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
Late Summer, Early Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Divison, From bulbs
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
Keep the Soil well drained, Water Deeply
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
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune in the growing season, Prune in the late winter or spring, Pruning may be required for height clearance, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Compost
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Heat And Humidity
Flowers
Showy
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
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
Sometimes
Sometimes
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Hummingbirds
Bees
Allergy
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
lung problems if inhaled in excess, starts menstrual flow
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Wild gardens
Beauty Benefits
Skin Problems
Acne, Brightens the skin complexion, Provides herbal hair care
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Cough, High blood pressure, High cholestrol, Soothing and relieving pain, Sore throat, Stomach spasms, Vomiting
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root
extracted oil, Leaf Stalks, Leaves, Shoots
Other Uses
Tea-like beverage can be brewed, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Condiment, Oil is used in perfume, soaps, creams, etc., Used as a condiment
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
Euphorbia tithymaloides
CYMBOPOGON citratus
Common Name
Devil's Backbone
Lemon Grass, Lemongrass
In Hindi
Devil's Backbone
शतवेधी
In German
Devil's Backbone
Zitronengräser
In French
Backbone du Diable
Cymbopogon
In Spanish
El espinazo del diablo
Cymbopogon
In Greek
Devil's Backbone
lemongrass
In Portuguese
Espinha do Diabo
Cymbopogon
In Polish
Kręgosłup diabła
Palczatka
In Latin
Narum diaboli
lemongrass
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Poales
Family
Crassulaceae
Poaceae
Genus
Euphorbia
Cymbopogon
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
Euphorbieae
Andropogoneae
Subfamily
Euphorbioideae
Panicoideae
Number of Species
200052
1
27800
👆🏻