Air-Purifying Devil's Backbone Succulent. Great Houseplant, Easy to Care For.

Indoor Houseplant

We dabble in house plants from time to time. This is one we took to the Northeast Plant Show in Syracuse on August 2. It was a big hit. 

"Devil's Backbone" commonly refers to the succulent species Euphorbia tithymaloides, previously classified as Pedilanthus tithymaloides. It is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family, also known as the spurge family.

Appearance: It's a low-maintenance succulent known for its unique zigzagging stems that resemble a spine or backbone, giving it the characteristic name.

Other Names: It's also called Zigzag Plant, Redbird Cactus, Jacob's Ladder, Slipper Flower, Japanese Poinsettia, and more.

Leaves: It features small, lance-shaped leaves that can be green, variegated with white edges, and sometimes take on a reddish or pink tint in bright light or cool weather.

Flowers: While the plant does have true flowers, it also has red leaf bracts that are sometimes called "slipper flowers" due to their shoe shape. It generally flowers in mid-spring, although flowering indoors is less common.

Toxicity: All parts of the Devil's Backbone plant, including the roots, stems, and leaves, are toxic to pets (like dogs and cats) and humans if ingested. The milky sap can also cause skin irritation upon contact.

Growth: It can be grown indoors or outdoors in warm climates (USDA Hardiness Zones 9-11). Outdoors, it can grow up to 8 feet tall, while indoor plants typically reach 4 or 5 feet.

Care: It prefers bright, indirect light but can tolerate some direct sun (avoiding intense midday rays) and thrives in well-draining, sandy soil or a cactus/succulent mix. It's relatively drought-tolerant, so it's important to allow the soil to dry out between waterings to avoid root rot.

Benefits: Besides its ornamental value, it's known for being a low-maintenance plant and is believed to have air-purifying properties, filtering out toxins like formaldehyde and benzene.