Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Fruits, Trees
Origin
Madagascar
Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tropical Indomalaya
Types
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Feronia limonia, Limonia acidissima
Number of Varieties
81
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
Dry areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-13-9999
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
-
Sunset Zone
H2, 13, 23, 24
-
Habit
Upright/Erect
-
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm800.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm900.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
White
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
-
Greyish Brown, Light Green
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
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Gray Green
Gray Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Autumn
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Rich
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Late Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Budding, Layering, root cutting, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
Do not water excessively
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
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Rich
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 after harvesting, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
for fruiting plants, use high phosphorous content fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
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
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Hummingbirds
-
Allergy
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Gastric
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
Skin Problems
Good Cleanser
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
-
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Blood cleanser, Diabetes, Ear ache, Energy, Kidney problems, Liver Protection, Malaria, Respiratory Disorders, Snakebite
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 for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Edible, Fruit Tree
Botanical Name
Euphorbia tithymaloides
Limonia acidissima
Common Name
Devil's Backbone
Wood apple, monkey fruit, curd fruit
In Hindi
Devil's Backbone
कबिट
In German
Devil's Backbone
Indischer Holzapfel
In French
Backbone du Diable
Kawista
In Spanish
El espinazo del diablo
Kawista
In Greek
Devil's Backbone
γλυκό ασβέστη
In Portuguese
Espinha do Diabo
Limonia
In Polish
Kręgosłup diabła
Feronia słoniowa
In Latin
Narum diaboli
dulcis ad cinerem
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Sapindales
Family
Crassulaceae
Rutaceae
Genus
Euphorbia
Limonia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Tribe
Euphorbieae
Citreae
Subfamily
Euphorbioideae
Aurantioideae
Number of Species
20001
1
27800
👆🏻