Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States
Madagascar
Types
-
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Habitat
bottomlands, Depression on prairies, ditches, Floodplains, Riverbanks, stream banks, Swamps
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-9
9-13
Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H2, 13, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Upright/Erect
Flower Color
Yellow, Brown
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
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
Yellow, Light Yellow, Tan
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Shape
Oval with a pointed tip and fine teeth along their edges
Ovate
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Tolerances
Wet Site, Pollution, Soil Compaction
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Requires a lot of watering, Requires regular watering
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
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune in the late winter or spring, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Shape and thin as needed
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, No need to fertilize every year
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Red blotch, Sawfly Larvae
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Pollution, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Drought
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Allergy
Asthma
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Skin Problems
Environmental Uses
Erosion control, Wildlife
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
-
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Leaves, Root
Other Uses
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
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
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
BETULA nigra
Euphorbia tithymaloides
Common Name
River Birch
Devil's Backbone
In Hindi
River Birch
Devil's Backbone
In German
Fluss Birch
Devil's Backbone
In French
Birch river
Backbone du Diable
In Spanish
river Birch
El espinazo del diablo
In Greek
ποταμός Birch
Devil's Backbone
In Portuguese
river Birch
Espinha do Diabo
In Polish
Rzeka Birch
Kręgosłup diabła
In Latin
Betula
Narum diaboli
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fagales
Malpighiales
Family
Betulaceae
Crassulaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Subfamily
-
Euphorbioideae
Importance of River Birch and Devils Backbone
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of River Birch and Devils Backbone. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare River Birch 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 River Birch is whereas of Devils Backbone is Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation and Intestinal worms. River Birch has beauty benefits as follows: while Devils Backbone has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of River Birch 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 River Birch 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 River Birch are Asthma 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. River Birch has no showy fruits and Devils Backbone has no showy fruits. Also River Birch is not flowering and Devils Backbone is not flowering . You can compare River Birch and Devils Backbone facts and facts of other plants too.