Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Southern Africa
Madagascar
Types
Firesticks, Old Man's Beard
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Habitat
Desert, Hilly upland habitat, Semi desert
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-13
9-13
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 21, 22, 23, 24
H2, 13, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Upright/Erect
Flower Color
Yellow
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
Red, Red orange
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green, Yellow green
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Light Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Red, Light Green, Orange Red
Green, Gray Green
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Tolerances
Pollution, Drought, Salt
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Needs good drainage, Water less during winter, Water more in summer
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, Partial 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
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Foliage Texture
Bold
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Allergy
Eye irritation, Numb Lips
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Aesthetic Uses
Mixed Border, Ornamental use, Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Skin Problems
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Antiasthamatic, anti-cancer, Antitumor, Cough, Ear ache
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Part of Plant Used
Branch, Latex, Root
Leaves, Root
Other Uses
Used as firewood, Used as Ornamental plant
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, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
EUPHORBIA tirucalli
Euphorbia tithymaloides
Common Name
aveloz, firestick plants, Indian tree spurge, naked lady, pencil tree, pencil cactus, sticks on fire, milk bush, Euphorbia tirucalli
Devil's Backbone
In Hindi
Sher-kandvel
Devil's Backbone
In German
Bleistiftstrauch
Devil's Backbone
In French
Aveloz
Backbone du Diable
In Spanish
Pencil Plant
El espinazo del diablo
In Greek
Aveloz
Devil's Backbone
In Portuguese
avelós
Espinha do Diabo
In Polish
Aveloz
Kręgosłup diabła
In Latin
Aveloz
Narum diaboli
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Euphorbiales
Malpighiales
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Crassulaceae
Genus
Euphorbia
Euphorbia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Euphorbieae
Euphorbieae
Subfamily
Euphorbioideae
Euphorbioideae
Importance of Pencil Plant and Devils Backbone
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Pencil Plant and Devils Backbone. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Pencil Plant 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 Pencil Plant is Antiasthamatic, anti-cancer, Antitumor, Cough and Ear ache whereas of Devils Backbone is Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation and Intestinal worms. Pencil Plant has beauty benefits as follows: while Devils Backbone has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Pencil Plant 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 Pencil Plant 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 Pencil Plant are Eye irritation and Numb Lips 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. Pencil Plant has no showy fruits and Devils Backbone has no showy fruits. Also Pencil Plant is not flowering and Devils Backbone is not flowering . You can compare Pencil Plant and Devils Backbone facts and facts of other plants too.