Euphorbia tithymaloides is a perennial succulent spurge. An erect shrub, the plant is also known by the scientific name Pedilanthus tithymaloides. The plant is native to the subtropical regions of Central America and North America.
The Devil’s Backbone plant is a shrub and may eventually reach three to four feet in height. The thick branches and stems have a zig-zag pattern and produce small, oval-shaped leaves with pointed tips. When the plant is still maturing, its leaves may not grow in very thick. As the plant matures, it can become quite bushy. It’s not a fast-growing plant. It grows at a medium rate and may take several years to mature. Pedilanthus tithymaloides produces small slipper-shaped flowers, where the Latin name Pedilanthus (“Slipper Flower”) comes from. The plant blooms in the summer. The flowers are small, don’t last long, and do not produce a scent.While it’s still often called the Pedilanthus tithymaloides, the Pedilanthus genus has been merged into the Euphorbia genus, giving it the name “Euphorbia tithymaloides.”
