Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Herbs, Perennial
Shrub
Origin
South-Eastern Asia
Madagascar
Types
-
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Number of Varieties
208
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Semi desert, Wet forest
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-119-13
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12 - 9
-
Sunset Zone
-
H2, 13, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
460.00 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
20.00 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
-
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Green, Gray Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Elliptic
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Very 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
Indeterminate
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site
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
Average Water Needs, Needs good drainage
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
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Cut away fading foliage, Cut upper 1/3 section when young to enhancegrowth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Don't use high pH fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Downy mildew, Dry root rot, Rust, Spider mites
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Heat Tolerance, Humidity
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
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Aphids, Bees, Butterflies, Snails
Hummingbirds
Allergy
Dizziness, Mouth itching, Vomiting
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good Cleanser, Good for the Scalp
Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Insect Repellent
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antipyretic, Bronchitis, Cough, Digestive disorders, Ear infections, Expectorant, Laxative, Migraines, Piles, Rheumatism, Throat infection, Treating fever
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Leaf Stalks, Leaves
Leaves, Root
Other Uses
Biomass for fuel, Can be made into a herbal tea, Culinary use, Oil is used for aromatherapy, Used as a laxative
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, Hedges, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
Justicia adhatoda
Euphorbia tithymaloides
Common Name
Malabar nut, Adulsa, Adhatoda, Vasaka
Devil's Backbone
In Hindi
अडुळसा, अडुसा
Devil's Backbone
In German
Indisches Lungenkraut
Devil's Backbone
In French
Justicia adhatoda
Backbone du Diable
In Spanish
Justicia adhatoda
El espinazo del diablo
In Greek
Justicia adhatoda
Devil's Backbone
In Portuguese
Justicia adhatoda
Espinha do Diabo
In Polish
Justicia adhatoda
Kręgosłup diabła
In Latin
Justicia adhatoda
Narum diaboli
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Scrophulariales
Malpighiales
Family
Acanthaceae
Crassulaceae
Genus
Justicia
Euphorbia
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Justicieae
Euphorbieae
Subfamily
Acanthoideae
Euphorbioideae
Number of Species
6582000
1
27800
👆🏻