Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Shrub
Origin
Eastern Asia, India
Madagascar
Types
-
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Number of Varieties
-8
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Temperate Regions, Tropical regions
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-119-13
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
-
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 24
H2, 13, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
120.00 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
12.00 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Yellow green
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
Pink
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Green, Gray Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Grafting, Stem Planting
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
In Summer
Ample Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Average Water
Moderate
In Winter
Less Watering
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
fertilize in fall, fertilize in spring, fertilize in summer, Nitrogen
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Root rot, Scale
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Flowers
Insignificant
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
Bold
Foliage Sheen
-
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Insects
Hummingbirds
Allergy
Skin irritation
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for insects, Very little waste, Wildlife
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Leaves, Root
Other Uses
Air freshner, Showy Purposes, Traditional medicine, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
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, Foundation, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
EUPHORBIA lactea
Euphorbia tithymaloides
Common Name
Mottled Spurge, Frilled Fan, Elkhorn
Devil's Backbone
In Hindi
Elkhorn
Devil's Backbone
In German
Elkhorn
Devil's Backbone
In French
Elkhorn
Backbone du Diable
In Spanish
cuerno de alce
El espinazo del diablo
In Greek
Elkhorn
Devil's Backbone
In Portuguese
Elkhorn
Espinha do Diabo
In Polish
Elkhorn
Kręgosłup diabła
In Latin
Elkhorn
Narum diaboli
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Malpighiales
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Crassulaceae
Genus
Euphorbia
Euphorbia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Euphorbieae
Euphorbieae
Subfamily
Euphorbioideae
Euphorbioideae
Number of Species
12000
1
27800
👆🏻