Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Perennial
Origin
Madagascar
North America, United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Canada
Types
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
-
Number of Varieties
82
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
gardens, Hardwood forests
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-135-7
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
7-5
Sunset Zone
H2, 13, 23, 24
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Habit
Upright/Erect
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm15.20 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm12.70 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
White
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Light Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Gray Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Butterfly shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial shade, Full Shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Late Spring, Early Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Divison, Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
Medium
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
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial shade, Full Shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove deadheads, Requires very little pruning
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
No fertilizers needed
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
Bees, Butterflies
Allergy
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Skin Problems
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Cancer, Diuretic
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root
Flowers, Root
Other Uses
Tea-like beverage can be brewed, 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
Feature Plant, Groundcover
Botanical Name
Euphorbia tithymaloides
JEFFERSONIA diphylla
Common Name
Devil's Backbone
-
In Hindi
Devil's Backbone
Twinleaf
In German
Devil's Backbone
Twinleaf
In French
Backbone du Diable
Twinleaf
In Spanish
El espinazo del diablo
Twinleaf
In Greek
Devil's Backbone
Twinleaf
In Portuguese
Espinha do Diabo
Twinleaf
In Polish
Kręgosłup diabła
Twinleaf
In Latin
Narum diaboli
Twinleaf
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Ranunculales
Family
Crassulaceae
Berberidaceae
Genus
Euphorbia
Jeffersonia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Tribe
Euphorbieae
-
Subfamily
Euphorbioideae
-
Number of Species
20002
1
27800
👆🏻