Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Flowering Plants
Origin
Madagascar
Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Types
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Epiphyllum oxypetalum, Selenicereus grandiflorus
Number of Varieties
830
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
Desert
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-1312-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
12-10
Sunset Zone
H2, 13, 23, 24
H2
Habit
Upright/Erect
Weeping
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm180.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm90.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
White, Ivory
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
-
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Gray Green
Olive, Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Long and slender with very sharp edges
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
Does not require lot of watering, Water once every two or three weeks, Water when soil is dry
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Aphids, Mealybugs, Root rot, Scale, Viruses
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Semi-Double
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Bold
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
-
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Hummingbirds
-
Allergy
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beautification
Beauty Benefits
Skin Problems
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Diabetes, Hangover
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root
Flowers, Fruits, Leaves
Other Uses
Tea-like beverage can be brewed, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Employed in herbal medicine, Fine spines and trichomes are used as fiber for weaving, Used As Food
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Container, Hanging Basket, Houseplant, Tropical
Botanical Name
Euphorbia tithymaloides
Peniocereus greggii
Common Name
Devil's Backbone
Night Blooming Cereus, Reina de la noche, Arizona queen of the night
In Hindi
Devil's Backbone
Night Blooming Cereus
In German
Devil's Backbone
Nachtblühende Cereus
In French
Backbone du Diable
Night Blooming Cereus
In Spanish
El espinazo del diablo
Reina de la noche
In Greek
Devil's Backbone
Night Blooming Cereus
In Portuguese
Espinha do Diabo
Night Blooming Cereus
In Polish
Kręgosłup diabła
Noc Blooming Cereus
In Latin
Narum diaboli
Maria Maria Cereus
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Caryophyllales
Family
Crassulaceae
Cactaceae
Genus
Euphorbia
Peniocereus
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Euphorbieae
Pachycereeae
Subfamily
Euphorbioideae
Cactoideae
Number of Species
200018
1
27800
👆🏻