Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Shrub
Fruit
Origin
Madagascar
Africa
Types
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
-
Number of Varieties
81
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
Cultivated Beds, Fields, Waste areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-13-9999
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
12-4
Sunset Zone
H2, 13, 23, 24
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm20.30 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm150.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Yellow
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Yellow, Green, Yellow green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Gray Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Palmate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
reseeds, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Over-watering can cause leaf problems or root diseases, Requires regular watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
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, Bacterial fruit blotch, Cabbage looper, Cucumber mosaic, Cutworms, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
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
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Hummingbirds
-
Allergy
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
Skin Problems
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Nutrients, Vitamin C
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root
Fruits
Other Uses
Tea-like beverage can be brewed, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Food
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Edible, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Herb / Vegetable, Vine
Botanical Name
Euphorbia tithymaloides
CUCUMIS melo 'Lambkin'
Common Name
Devil's Backbone
Christmas Melon, Piel de Sapo
In Hindi
Devil's Backbone
Piel de sapo
In German
Devil's Backbone
Piel de sapo
In French
Backbone du Diable
Piel de sapo
In Spanish
El espinazo del diablo
Piel de sapo
In Greek
Devil's Backbone
Piel de sapo
In Portuguese
Espinha do Diabo
Piel de sapo
In Polish
Kręgosłup diabła
Piel de sapo
In Latin
Narum diaboli
Piel de sapo
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Violales
Family
Crassulaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Euphorbia
Cucumis
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Euphorbieae
Benincaseae
Subfamily
Euphorbioideae
Cucurbitoideae
Number of Species
200010
1
27800
👆🏻