Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Shrub
Bulb or Corm or Tuber
Origin
Madagascar
South Africa
Types
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
-
Number of Varieties
85
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
Tropical regions, Well Drained, Wet forest
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-137-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
10-5
Sunset Zone
H2, 13, 23, 24
21,22
Habit
Upright/Erect
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm45.70 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm2.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
White, Light Pink, Lavender
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Yellow green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Blue Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Several shades of Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Gray Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Long Narrow
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loamy, Well drained
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Dry soil, Shade areas
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Budding, From bulbs
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
Keep ground moist, Never Over-water
In Summer
Lots of watering
Moderate
In Spring
Moderate
Average Water
In Winter
Average Water
Less Watering
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
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
Cut out old flower stalks, Prune ocassionally
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
fertilize in fall, Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Bacterial leaf spot, Nematodes, Purple Blotch, Red blotch, Seedcorn maggot
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Dry soil, Shade areas
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
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Hummingbirds
Bugs, Flying insects, Insects
Allergy
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Dermatitis, Pain and fatigue
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes, Used in parkland
Beauty Benefits
Skin Problems
Acne, For treating wrinkles, Making cosmetics, Removes pimples
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Indoor Air Purification, Insect Repellent
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Acne, Aging, Antidepressant, epilepsy, Nerve pain, Obesity, Vomiting
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root
Bulbs
Other Uses
Tea-like beverage can be brewed, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Animal Feed, Can be made into a herbal tea, Oil is used in mosquito repellents, Use in Chinese herbology, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Botanical Name
Euphorbia tithymaloides
TULBAGHIA violacea
Common Name
Devil's Backbone
Society Garlic
In Hindi
Devil's Backbone
लहसुन
In German
Devil's Backbone
Knoblauch
In French
Backbone du Diable
Ail
In Spanish
El espinazo del diablo
Ajo
In Greek
Devil's Backbone
σκόρδο
In Portuguese
Espinha do Diabo
alho
In Polish
Kręgosłup diabła
czosnek
In Latin
Narum diaboli
allium
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Liliales
Family
Crassulaceae
Liliaceae
Genus
Euphorbia
Allium
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Monocotyledonous
Tribe
Euphorbieae
-
Subfamily
Euphorbioideae
Lilioideae
Number of Species
2000500
1
27800
👆🏻