Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Trees
Shrub
Origin
China, Korea
Madagascar
Types
Sophora japonica
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Number of Varieties
108
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Humid climates, Loamy soils, Low annual rainfall regions, Wet ground, Woods
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-99-13
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-5
-
Sunset Zone
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H2, 13, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,220.00 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
1,220.00 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Light Green
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Green
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Dark Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Green, Gray Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Elliptic
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Summer
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Pollution, Drought, Soil Compaction
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Transplanting
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
occasional watering once established, Requires watering in the growing season
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
In Summer
Less Watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Less Watering
Moderate
In Winter
Drought Tolerant
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune when young, Remove dead branches
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Leaf spot, Red blotch, Woodpecker feeding
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Soil Compaction
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
Medium
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
Sometimes
Sometimes
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Hummingbirds, Woodpeckers
Hummingbirds
Allergy
Eczema, Nausea, Swelling in the face
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Bouquets, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Nourishes scalp, Restores Hair Colour, Stops hair loss
Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Erosion control, Forms dense stands, Shadow Tree
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Diuretic, Fever, Muscle Pain, Vomiting
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Leaves
Leaves, Root
Other Uses
Used as a laxative, Used as firewood, Used as Ornamental plant, Used in construction
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
Shade Trees, Street Trees, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
SOPHORA japonica
Euphorbia tithymaloides
Common Name
Chinese Scholartree, Japanese Pagoda
Devil's Backbone
In Hindi
Gobur champ
Devil's Backbone
In German
Japanischer Schnurbaum
Devil's Backbone
In French
Styphnolobium japonicum
Backbone du Diable
In Spanish
Styphnolobium japonicum
El espinazo del diablo
In Greek
Styphnolobium japonicum
Devil's Backbone
In Portuguese
Styphnolobium japonicum
Espinha do Diabo
In Polish
Perełkowiec japoński
Kręgosłup diabła
In Latin
Styphnolobium japonicum
Narum diaboli
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Angiosperms
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fabales
Malpighiales
Family
Fabaceae
Crassulaceae
Genus
Styphnolobium
Euphorbia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Sophoreae
Euphorbieae
Subfamily
Faboideae
Euphorbioideae
Number of Species
202000
1
27800
👆🏻