Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus
Tender Perennial
Origin
Southern Africa
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
Types
Firesticks, Old Man's Beard
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
Number of Varieties
220
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert, Hilly upland habitat, Semi desert
Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-138-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
12-5
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm180.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
610.00 cm120.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow
White, Red, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
-
Multi-Color
Fruit Color
Red, Red orange
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green, Yellow green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Red, Light Green, Orange Red
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Tiny
Lance shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Pollution, Drought, Salt
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings, Stem Cutting
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Needs good drainage, Water less during winter, Water more in summer
Requires plenty of water during the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Cut off the flower stalks at the base of the plant, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Apply 8-4-6 amount
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
-
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Bold
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Butterflies
Allergy
Eye irritation, Numb Lips
Rash
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Mixed Border, Ornamental use, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiasthamatic, anti-cancer, Antitumor, Cough, Ear ache
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
Part of Plant Used
Branch, Latex, Root
Leaves, Rhizomes
Other Uses
Used as firewood, Used as Ornamental plant
Can be made into a herbal tea, Leaves used for wrapping zongi, Used to flavour noodles, Used to wrap mochi rice cakes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Botanical Name
EUPHORBIA tirucalli
ALPINIA zerumbet
Common Name
aveloz, firestick plants, Indian tree spurge, naked lady, pencil tree, pencil cactus, sticks on fire, milk bush, Euphorbia tirucalli
Shell Ginger
In Hindi
Sher-kandvel
Shell Ginger
In German
Bleistiftstrauch
Shell Ginger
In French
Aveloz
Shell Ginger
In Spanish
Pencil Plant
Shell jengibre
In Greek
Aveloz
Shell Τζίντζερ
In Portuguese
avelós
Shell Ginger
In Polish
Aveloz
Shell Imbir
In Latin
Aveloz
Crusta Ginger
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Lilopsida
Order
Euphorbiales
Zingiberales
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Zingiberaceae
Genus
Euphorbia
Alpinia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
Euphorbieae
Alpinieae
Subfamily
Euphorbioideae
Alpinioideae
Number of Species
1150
1
27800
👆🏻