Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Fruit, Tree
Shrub
Origin
-
Madagascar
Types
-
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Number of Varieties
508
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Forests, gardens, Hill prairies, Homesteads, Rocky areas, Woodlands
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
-99999-13
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
-
Sunset Zone
-
H2, 13, 23, 24
Habit
Bushy, Evergreen
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
800.00 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
400.00 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Green, Lime Green
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
Green, Light Green
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Yellow, Green, Gray Green
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Green, Gray Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Yellow, Green, Gray Green
Green, Gray Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
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, Early Fall
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Pollution, Salt, Soil Compaction
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Cutting, Stem Planting
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist, Requires regular watering, Use Mulches to help prevent water loss during hot and windy weather
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, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Cut or pinch the stems, Do not prune during shooting season, Remove deadheads
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
High Potash Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Bacterial Blight, Foliage-feeding caterpillars, Moth
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Pollution, Salt and Soil Compaction
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Fine
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
Sometimes
Sometimes
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Caterpillar
Hummingbirds
Allergy
Skin irritation
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Blood purifying, Glowing Skin, Good for skin and hair, Provides herbal hair care, Speed hair growth
Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, soil stabilisation
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Atherosclerosis, Cancer, Diabetes, Diarrhea, High blood pressure, High cholestrol, Obesity, Vitamin C
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Part of Plant Used
Fruits
Leaves, Root
Other Uses
Making Shampoo, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in herbal medicines
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
Cottage garden
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
Phyllanthus acidus
Euphorbia tithymaloides
Common Name
Tahitian gooseberry, country gooseberry, star gooseberry, starberry, grosella
Devil's Backbone
In Hindi
ताहितियन आमला
Devil's Backbone
In German
Tahitian Stachelbeere
Devil's Backbone
In French
Tahitian Gooseberry
Backbone du Diable
In Spanish
Tahitian grosella espinosa
El espinazo del diablo
In Greek
Tahitian Φραγκοστάφυλο
Devil's Backbone
In Portuguese
Tahitian Gooseberry
Espinha do Diabo
In Polish
Tahitian agrest
Kręgosłup diabła
In Latin
Tahitian Gooseberry
Narum diaboli
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Malpighiales
Family
Phyllanthaceae
Crassulaceae
Genus
Phyllanthus
Euphorbia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Phyllantheae
Euphorbieae
Subfamily
-
Euphorbioideae
Number of Species
3002000
1
27800
👆🏻