Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Shrub
Types
Cephalocereus senilis
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Habitat
Dry areas, Forest margins, gardens, Semi arid regions, Semi desert
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
11-15
9-13
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 21, 22, 23, 24
H2, 13, 23, 24
Habit
Narrow Upright/Fastigiate
Upright/Erect
Flower Color
Pink
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Leaf Color in Spring
White
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Summer
White
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
White
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
White
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Shape
Funnel shaped
Ovate
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Very Slow
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Vegetative Reproduction
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Water when soil is dry
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
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
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Foliage Texture
Bold
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Allergy
Skin irritation
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
-
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Part of Plant Used
Bulbs, Hair
Leaves, Root
Other Uses
Hair is used in making sweaters, Showy Purposes
Tea-like beverage can be brewed, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
CEPHALOCEREUS senilis
Euphorbia tithymaloides
Common Name
Bunny Cactus
White Persian Cat cactus
Devil's Backbone
In Hindi
ओल्ड मैन कैक्टस
Devil's Backbone
In German
Old Man Cactus
Devil's Backbone
In French
Old Man Cactus
Backbone du Diable
In Spanish
Viejo Cactus
El espinazo del diablo
In Greek
Γέρος Cactus
Devil's Backbone
In Portuguese
Old Man Cactus
Espinha do Diabo
In Polish
Stary Cactus
Kręgosłup diabła
In Latin
Senem Cactus
Narum diaboli
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Malpighiales
Family
Cactaceae
Crassulaceae
Genus
Cephalocereus
Euphorbia
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Pachycereeae
Euphorbieae
Subfamily
Cactoideae
Euphorbioideae
Importance of Old Man Cactus and Devils Backbone
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Old Man Cactus and Devils Backbone. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Old Man Cactus 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 Old Man Cactus is whereas of Devils Backbone is Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation and Intestinal worms. Old Man Cactus has beauty benefits as follows: while Devils Backbone has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Old Man Cactus 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 Old Man Cactus 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 Old Man Cactus are Skin irritation 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. Old Man Cactus has no showy fruits and Devils Backbone has no showy fruits. Also Old Man Cactus is not flowering and Devils Backbone is not flowering . You can compare Old Man Cactus and Devils Backbone facts and facts of other plants too.