Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Melanesia, Australia
Madagascar
Types
Umbrella plant
Amate
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Habitat
gardens, Homesteads, Roadsides, Tropical regions, Woods
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-15
9-13
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 23, 24
H2, 13, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Upright/Erect
Flower Color
Red, Pink
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Red, Purple
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Red, Purple
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Shape
Elliptic
Ovate
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Tolerances
Pollution, Soil Compaction
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Transplanting
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Do Not over Water, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Water occasionally
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 pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
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
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
Birds
Hummingbirds
Allergy
Dermititis
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Skin Problems
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Arthritis, Asthma, Headache, Rheumatoid arthritis, Stomach pain
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Part of Plant Used
Root
Leaves, Root
Other Uses
Employed in herbal medicine, Showy Purposes
Tea-like beverage can be brewed, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Screening / Wind Break, Street Trees, Tropical
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
SCHEFFLERA actinophylla
Euphorbia tithymaloides
Common Name
Octopus Tree
Devil's Backbone
In Hindi
ऑक्टोपस पेड़
Devil's Backbone
In German
Octopus tree
Devil's Backbone
In French
arbre Octopus
Backbone du Diable
In Spanish
árbol pulpo
El espinazo del diablo
In Greek
χταπόδι δέντρο
Devil's Backbone
In Portuguese
Octopus árvore
Espinha do Diabo
In Polish
Ośmiornica drzewo
Kręgosłup diabła
In Latin
polypus ligno
Narum diaboli
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Apiales
Malpighiales
Family
Araliaceae
Crassulaceae
Genus
Schefflera
Euphorbia
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Subfamily
Aralioideae
Euphorbioideae
Importance of Octopus Tree and Devils Backbone
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Octopus Tree and Devils Backbone. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Octopus Tree and Devils Backbone as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Octopus Tree is Arthritis, Asthma, Headache, Rheumatoid arthritis and Stomach pain whereas of Devils Backbone is Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation and Intestinal worms. Octopus Tree has beauty benefits as follows: while Devils Backbone has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Octopus Tree vs Devils Backbone
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Octopus Tree vs Devils Backbone and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Octopus Tree are Dermititis whereas of Devils Backbone have Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation and Toxic respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Octopus Tree has showy fruits and Devils Backbone has no showy fruits. Also Octopus Tree is not flowering and Devils Backbone is not flowering . You can compare Octopus Tree and Devils Backbone facts and facts of other plants too.