Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Shrub
Origin
Southeastern Asia
Madagascar
Types
Eddoe taro, Dasheen taro
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Habitat
agricultural areas, Hillside, Warm and moist climatic conditions
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-11
9-13
AHS Heat Zone
12-8
Not Available
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
H2, 13, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Upright/Erect
Flower Color
White, Green
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
Not Available
Fruit Color
Red
Not Available
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
Leaf Shape
V-Shaped
Ovate
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Partial shade, Full Shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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
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 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 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
No pruning needed
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
Not Available
Single
Foliage Texture
Bold
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
Aphids, Bugs, Not Available, Snails
Hummingbirds
Allergy
Swelling in mouth, Throat itching
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser, Weightloss
Skin Problems
Environmental Uses
No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Prevent weeds
Air purification
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
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
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
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Arales
Malpighiales
Family
Araceae
Crassulaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Colocasiodeae
Euphorbieae
Subfamily
Aroideae
Euphorbioideae
Importance of Taro and Devils Backbone
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Taro and Devils Backbone. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Taro 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 Taro is Aging, Laxative and Weight loss whereas of Devils Backbone is Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation and Intestinal worms. Taro has beauty benefits as follows: Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser and Weightloss while Devils Backbone has beauty benefits as follows: Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser and Weightloss.
Compare Facts of Taro 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 Taro 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 Taro are Swelling in mouth and Throat itching 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. Taro has no showy fruits and Devils Backbone has no showy fruits. Also Taro is not flowering and Devils Backbone is not flowering . You can compare Taro and Devils Backbone facts and facts of other plants too.