Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Tree
Origin
Madagascar
Asia, Caribbean, Central America
Types
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
-
Number of Varieties
820
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
secondary forest, Tropical Forests
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-133-8
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
8-1
Sunset Zone
H2, 13, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
Habit
Upright/Erect
Pyramidal
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm1,220.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm760.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Light Yellow
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Gray Green, Sandy Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Yellow, Light Yellow, Yellow green, Sandy Brown, Ivory
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Gray Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Lanceolate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Early Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Pollution, Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Grafting, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
Average Water Needs
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, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
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 in the growing season, pruning needed for strong structure, Remove dead branches
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Compost, High phosphorus
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Aphids, Downy mildew, Leaf rust, Mites, Squirrels
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Salt and Soil Compaction, Sun
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
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
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Hummingbirds
Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Squirrels
Allergy
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Nausea, Vomiting
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
Skin Problems
Anti-ageing, Maintains teeth healthy, Remove blemishes
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Food for animals, Food for birds, Shelter for wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Antibiotic, anti-cancer, Anti-oxidant, Cardiovascular problems, Diarrhea, Fever, Improve heart health
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root
Fruits
Other Uses
Tea-like beverage can be brewed, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Culinary use, Grown for shade, Oil is used in perfume, soaps, creams, etc., Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Feature Plant, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Shade Trees
Botanical Name
Euphorbia tithymaloides
Annona reticulate
Common Name
Devil's Backbone
wild-sweetsop, bullock's-heart, ox-heart
In Hindi
Devil's Backbone
ramphal
In German
Devil's Backbone
Netzannone
In French
Backbone du Diable
cachiman, cœur de bœuf
In Spanish
El espinazo del diablo
Annona reticulata
In Greek
Devil's Backbone
Ramphal
In Portuguese
Espinha do Diabo
coração-de-boi
In Polish
Kręgosłup diabła
Flaszowiec siatkowaty
In Latin
Narum diaboli
Ramphal
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Magnoliales
Family
Crassulaceae
Tiliaceae
Genus
Euphorbia
Annona
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Magnoliids
Tribe
Euphorbieae
Annoneae
Subfamily
Euphorbioideae
Annonoideae
Number of Species
2000170
1
27800
👆🏻