Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Perennial
Shrub
Origin
-
Madagascar
Types
Kniphofia uvaria
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Number of Varieties
708
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Damp Places, Marshy ground
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-99-13
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-4
-
Sunset Zone
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H2, 13, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
45.70 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
50.80 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Red, Orange, Pink
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
-
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Blue Green
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Blue Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Blue Green, Gray Green, Light Yellow
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Green, Gray Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Linear
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Divison, Seedlings
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Needs more water during establishment, Water Deeply, Water in morning to avoid prompting diseases, Water in the early morning hours
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
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply N-P-K
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Onion thrips, Red blotch, Root rot
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Moisture
Drought
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
Coarse
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Snails
Hummingbirds
Allergy
-
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Borders, Cottage Garden, Ground Cover
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Part of Plant Used
-
Leaves, Root
Other Uses
-
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, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
KNIPHOFIA 'Border Ballet'
Euphorbia tithymaloides
Common Name
Tritoma, Wisley Blue Spring Starflower, Wisley Blue Springstar
Devil's Backbone
In Hindi
Tritoma
Devil's Backbone
In German
Tritoma
Devil's Backbone
In French
Tritoma
Backbone du Diable
In Spanish
tritoma
El espinazo del diablo
In Greek
tritoma
Devil's Backbone
In Portuguese
Tritoma
Espinha do Diabo
In Polish
Tritoma
Kręgosłup diabła
In Latin
Trytoma
Narum diaboli
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asparagales
Malpighiales
Family
Liliaceae
Crassulaceae
Genus
Kniphofia
Euphorbia
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Euphorbieae
Subfamily
-
Euphorbioideae
Number of Species
722000
1
27800
👆🏻