Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Cactus
Shrub
Origin
South America, Argentina, Brazil
Madagascar
Types
Cereus repandus
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Number of Varieties
508
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
11-159-13
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
-
Sunset Zone
16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24
H2, 13, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
300.00 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
90.00 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Yellow
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Pink, Red
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Green, Gray Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Toothed
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
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
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Never Over-water
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
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
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Double
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Bold
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Hummingbirds
Allergy
-
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antioxidants, Indigestion, Oedema, Wounds
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Part of Plant Used
Fruits
Leaves, Root
Other Uses
Showy Purposes
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
Container, Fruit, Fruit Tree, Hedges, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
CEREUS hildmannianus ssp. uruguayanus
Euphorbia tithymaloides
Common Name
Peruvian Apple Cactus
Devil's Backbone
In Hindi
Peruvian Apple cactus
Devil's Backbone
In German
Peruanische Apple-Kaktus
Devil's Backbone
In French
Péruvienne d'Apple Cactus
Backbone du Diable
In Spanish
Peruana de Apple Cactus
El espinazo del diablo
In Greek
Του Περού μήλο κάκτος
Devil's Backbone
In Portuguese
Cactus a Apple peruana
Espinha do Diabo
In Polish
Peruwiański Jabłko Cactus
Kręgosłup diabła
In Latin
Apple Peruviani Cactus
Narum diaboli
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllidae
Malpighiales
Family
Cactaceae
Crassulaceae
Genus
Cereus
Euphorbia
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Cereeae
Euphorbieae
Subfamily
Cactoideae
Euphorbioideae
Number of Species
62000
1
27800
👆🏻