Euphorbia tithymaloides

Common Names

Devil's Backbone, Zig Zag Plant, Redbird Cactus, Slipper-Flower

Summary

Devil's backbone, also called zig-zag plant or redbird cactus, is a tropical/subtropical evergreen erect succulent shrub native to tropical and subtropical Americas from Florida to the Amazon and Caribbean. It grows 0.4–3 m tall and about 40–60 cm wide, branched from the base with distinctive zigzag stems and opposite leaves near the tips, and bears abundant cyathia with shoe-shaped red involucral bracts; leaves may be evergreen or caducous, and a milky latex sap is irritant.

Care and cultivation emphasize that it is a fast-growing plant in frost-free zones with well-drained sandy, nutrient-rich soil and bright light ranging from full sun to partial shade; drought-tolerant and water needs are higher during the growing season with reductions in winter; hardy to approximately -5°C and suited to USDA zones 9b–11; propagation by stem cuttings (4–6 inches); uses include ornamental hedge, rock garden, and container plant in tropical/subtropical landscapes; latex sap is poisonous and can irritate skin, requiring gloves during pruning or propagation; avoid ingestion and keep away from children and pets.

Lifecycle

Perennial (not frost-tolerant; in Zones 6–8, treated as annual or overwinter indoors)

Height

2-10 feet tall

Spread

16-24 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 9-11

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil, preferably sandy or cactus/succulent mix with perlite or sand for aeration, pots with drainage holes

Soil pH

Tolerates all pH levels

Bloom Color

Red

Bloom Time

Late spring through early fall.

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Fast

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Layering, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts hummingbirds, attracts birds, attracts other pollinators