Euphorbia tithymaloides
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Pedilanthus tithymaloides
- Tithymalus tithymaloides
- Phonetic Spelling
- yoo-FOR-bee-uh tith-ee-mal-OY-deez
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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The devil's backbone is an erect succulent shrub that is native to the subtropical areas of Florida, Central America, and South America. It grows from 2 to 10 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide and has green, zigzag shaped branches. It is a member of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae). The specific epithet, tithymaloides, means resembling the genus Tithymalus which is now a synonym for Euphorbia. Tithymalus is an ancient Greek name for a group of plants with white milky sap.
This plant prefers bright, indirect light and well-drained, potting mix that is used for succulents. Water this plant when the soil becomes dry 1 to 2 inches below the surface. The devil's backbone does best with temperatures between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Average to high humidity is well-tolerated. It can be propagated by stem cuttings.
The devil's backbone has simple, alternate, green leaves. The leaves are smooth, ovate with pointed tips, and entire to wavy margins. They measure 3.2 inches long and 2 inches wide. The flowers appear in mid-spring as cymes and are clustered at the ends of the branches and have bright red bracts.
This plant is used as an ornamental and will add interest as a container plant or houseplant. In warmer climates, consider planting in a rock garden or as a border planting.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Devil's backbone has very few pests or diseases. Monitor for mealybugs and spider mites. Overwatering can cause root rot. The foliage can burn from too much direct sunlight. Leggy growth is caused by too little light. Leaf drop will occur if the soil is too dry.
VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti," a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Euphorbia tithymaloides subsp. smallii 'Embraceable You' (Seashell Devil's Backbone)
sub-shrub, 2 to 3 feet tall, erect, crinkled, cupped-like, glossy, gray-green leaves with white margins, zigzag stems - Euphorbia tithymaloides subsp. smallii 'Variegatus'
small to medium size, zigzag stems, variegated foliage of cream to pale yellow to tinges of pink and red - 'Nana'
dwarf, up to 12 inches tall, bright green leaves, zigzag stem pattern is less obivous - 'Variegata'
up to 8 feet tall, glossy, oval, green leaves with white edges on a zig zag stems
- Euphorbia tithymaloides subsp. smallii 'Embraceable You' (Seashell Devil's Backbone)
- Euphorbia tithymaloides subsp. smallii 'Embraceable You' (Seashell Devil's Backbone), Euphorbia tithymaloides subsp. smallii 'Variegatus', 'Nana', 'Variegata'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Euphorbia tithymaloides subsp. smallii 'Embraceable You' (Seashell Devil's Backbone)
sub-shrub, 2 to 3 feet tall, erect, crinkled, cupped-like, glossy, gray-green leaves with white margins, zigzag stems - Euphorbia tithymaloides subsp. smallii 'Variegatus'
small to medium size, zigzag stems, variegated foliage of cream to pale yellow to tinges of pink and red - 'Nana'
dwarf, up to 12 inches tall, bright green leaves, zigzag stem pattern is less obivous - 'Variegata'
up to 8 feet tall, glossy, oval, green leaves with white edges on a zig zag stems
- Euphorbia tithymaloides subsp. smallii 'Embraceable You' (Seashell Devil's Backbone)
- Euphorbia tithymaloides subsp. smallii 'Embraceable You' (Seashell Devil's Backbone), Euphorbia tithymaloides subsp. smallii 'Variegatus', 'Nana', 'Variegata'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Euphorbia
- Species:
- tithymaloides
- Family:
- Euphorbiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Florida to Tropical Americas and Mexico
- Distribution:
- Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Bermuda Brazil, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, Turks-Caicos, Venezuela, and the United States--FL. Introduced: Chad, French Guiana, Gambia, Hawaii, Malawi, Marshall Island, Mozambique, and Wake Island
- Play Value:
- Easy to Grow
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Houseplant
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- Bracts
- Flower Description:
- A two-lipped red bract surrounds a tiny red flower. The flowers cluster at the ends of the branches. Blooming occurs in late spring or early summer. The plant rarely flowers indoors.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are alternate, simple, pointed, and medium green and sometimes with white edging. They are ovate to elliptical and measure up to 3.2 inches long and 2 inches wide.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Leaf Scar Shape:
- Round
- Stem Description:
- Stems are in a zigzag pattern and contain poisonous milky sap.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Landscape Theme:
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Poor Soil
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Dogs
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- The milky white latex sap found in all plant parts can cause mild to severe contact dermatitis. If contact with the eyes occurs the sap can cause temporary to permanent damage to the cornea. If eaten, blistering can occur on lips and oral mucosa. Avoid ingesting plant parts and keep plants away from pets and children.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Diterpene esters
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Sap/Juice
