Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Grass
Shrub
Origin
Southwestern United States, Texas, Mexico
Madagascar
Types
Nassella tenuissima
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Number of Varieties
158
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
driveways, open Woodlands, Roadsides, Rocky areas, Slopes, tree wells
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-109-13
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
11 - 4
-
Sunset Zone
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
Clump-Forming
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
50.80 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
55.90 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
-
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
-
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Yellow green, Tan
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Yellow green, Gold, Tan
Green, Gray Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Linear
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
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Do not water excessively
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
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Requires little pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Apply 12-6-6 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
Fine
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
Sometimes
Sometimes
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Hummingbirds
Allergy
-
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes, small hedge
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
Leaves, Root
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
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
Dried Flower / Everlasting, Container, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
NASSELLA tenuissima
Euphorbia tithymaloides
Common Name
Finestem Needlegrass, Mexican Feather Grass
Devil's Backbone
In Hindi
Mexican Feather Grass
Devil's Backbone
In German
Mexikanische Federgras
Devil's Backbone
In French
Mexicaine Herbe Feather
Backbone du Diable
In Spanish
Pluma hierba mexicana
El espinazo del diablo
In Greek
Μεξικού Αστραπή Grass
Devil's Backbone
In Portuguese
Mexican Pena Relva
Espinha do Diabo
In Polish
Mexican Feather trawy
Kręgosłup diabła
In Latin
Mexicanus Pluma Grass
Narum diaboli
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Cyperales
Malpighiales
Family
Poaceae
Crassulaceae
Genus
Nassella
Euphorbia
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Stipeae
Euphorbieae
Subfamily
-
Euphorbioideae
Number of Species
1162000
1
27800
👆🏻