Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Shrub
Origin
Southeastern Asia
Madagascar
Types
Eddoe taro, Dasheen taro
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Number of Varieties
2008
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
agricultural areas, Hillside, Warm and moist climatic conditions
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-119-13
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-8
-
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
H2, 13, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.00 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Green
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
Red
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green, Ivory
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green, Ivory
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green, Ivory
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green, Ivory
Green, Gray Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
V-Shaped
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial shade, Full Shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Heat Tolerance, Humidity, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shallow soil
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
From Rhizomes
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Needs 2-3 times watering per week, Needs a lot of water initially
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
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial shade, Full Shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
-
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Less fertilizing
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Rats, Snails
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Heat Tolerance, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
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
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Aphids, Bugs, Snails
Hummingbirds
Allergy
Swelling in mouth, Throat itching
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser, Weightloss
Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Prevent weeds
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Aging, Laxative, Weight loss
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Part of Plant Used
Leaf Stalks, Leaves
Leaves, Root
Other Uses
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
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, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
ALOCASIA micholitziana
Euphorbia tithymaloides
Common Name
Elephant Ear, Taro
Devil's Backbone
In Hindi
अरवी
Devil's Backbone
In German
Colocasia (Pflanzengattung)
Devil's Backbone
In French
Colocasia
Backbone du Diable
In Spanish
Colocasia
El espinazo del diablo
In Greek
Colocasia
Devil's Backbone
In Portuguese
Colocasia
Espinha do Diabo
In Polish
Kolokazja
Kręgosłup diabła
In Latin
Colocasia
Narum diaboli
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Arales
Malpighiales
Family
Araceae
Crassulaceae
Genus
Alocasia
Euphorbia
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Colocasiodeae
Euphorbieae
Subfamily
Aroideae
Euphorbioideae
Number of Species
102000
1
27800
👆🏻