Devil’s Backbone – Live Plants in 4 Inch Pots – Pedilanthus Tithymaloides – Rare Cactus Succulent from Florida

Devils backbone (scientific name Euphorbia tithymaloides or Pedilanthus tithymaloides) is a succulent plant that also goes by Jacob’s ladder, Japanese poinsettia, Persian lady slipper plant, and zig-zag plant. The tropical plant is native to Central America and Mexico. Delightfully crooked, zig-zag stems give Variegated Devils Backbone its wild, rebellious look and playful nickname. Variegation in shades of chartreuse, yellow and cream highlight the edges of the small, pointed leaves, adding extra appeal to its exotic form. In the cooler winter months, the leaf edges can take on a pink hue. Variegated devils backbone grows well in well-drained soil of nearly any texture when planted outdoors. Plant your indoor slipper plant in an all-purpose potting soil mixed with coarse sand, with a 6.1 to 7.8 pH level, for optimal results. Keep the soil barely moist from tepid water, and protect your plant from temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The plant will perform best in Sunset Zones H1, H2, 22, 23 and 24. Your devils backbone will thrive best in bright, but indirect, sun, although it will also tolerate partial shade. This colorful, succulent shrub makes a uniquely sculptural houseplant specimen. Also called Jacobs Ladder, or Redbird Flower, the plant can develop tiny red flowers on the growing tips in spring, however they often dont bloom in cultivation.