Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Shrub
Origin
Mexico
Madagascar
Types
-
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Number of Varieties
208
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Rocky areas, Well Drained
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-159-13
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-8
-
Sunset Zone
12, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24
H2, 13, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
60.00 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
60.00 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Brown
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
-
-
Leaf Color in Spring
-
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Summer
-
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
-
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Green, Gray Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Stem Cutting
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Needs very little water
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
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
Bold
Foliage Sheen
-
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Hummingbirds
Allergy
-
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Bonsai, Mixed Border
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Part of Plant Used
-
Leaves, 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, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
ECHINOCACTUS grusonii
Euphorbia tithymaloides
Common Name
golden barrel cactus
golden ball
mother-in-law's cushion
Devil's Backbone
In Hindi
Golden ball
Devil's Backbone
In German
goldene Kugel
Devil's Backbone
In French
boule d'or
Backbone du Diable
In Spanish
bola de oro
El espinazo del diablo
In Greek
χρυσή μπάλα
Devil's Backbone
In Portuguese
bola de ouro
Espinha do Diabo
In Polish
Złota piłka
Kręgosłup diabła
In Latin
Aurea Ball
Narum diaboli
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Malpighiales
Family
Cactaceae
Crassulaceae
Genus
Echinocactus
Euphorbia
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Cacteae
Euphorbieae
Subfamily
Cactaceae
Euphorbioideae
Number of Species
152000
1
27800
👆🏻