Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Shrub
Origin
Central America, Mexico, North America
Madagascar
Types
Neck, Really Big Hybrid, Waltham
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Number of Varieties
58
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Cultivated Beds
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-119-13
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
-
Sunset Zone
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 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
Prostrate/Trailing
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
7.62 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
50.80 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Gold
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Peach, Tan
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green, Yellow green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Green, Gray Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Indeterminate
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Prefer drip-irrigation instead of Over-head 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
Soil pH
Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Cut out old flower stalks, Prune after flowering, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove the old foliage
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Apply 10-10-10 amount, Balanced organic fertilizer, iron-rich fertilizer, Nitrogen, Phosphate
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Bacteria wilt, Bacterial leaf spot, Blight, Cucumber beetles, Cutworms, Dry root rot, Fusarium leaf spot, Soft scales
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Full Sun, Shade areas, Shallow soil
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
Coarse
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ants, Bees
Hummingbirds
Allergy
Dermatitis
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Glowing Skin, Good for skin and hair
Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiasthamatic, anti-cancer, Cardiovascular problems, cholesterol-lowering, constipation, Diabetes, Fiber, High blood pressure, High cholestrol, Immunity, Manganese, Obesity, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Fruits, Leaves, Seeds
Leaves, Root
Other Uses
For making oil, Used As Food
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
Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Vine
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
CUCURBITA pepo 'White Crown of Thorns'
Euphorbia tithymaloides
Common Name
Winter Squash
Devil's Backbone
In Hindi
कोंहड़ा
Devil's Backbone
In German
Winter squash
Devil's Backbone
In French
courges d'hiver
Backbone du Diable
In Spanish
calabaza de invierno
El espinazo del diablo
In Greek
σκουός χειμώνα
Devil's Backbone
In Portuguese
abóbora
Espinha do Diabo
In Polish
dynia
Kręgosłup diabła
In Latin
cucurbita
Narum diaboli
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Malpighiales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Crassulaceae
Genus
Cucurbita
Euphorbia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Euphorbieae
Subfamily
Papilionoideae
Euphorbioideae
Number of Species
272000
1
27800
👆🏻