Devil’s Backbone, Jacob’s Ladder, Slipper Flower
Devil’s Backbone is a succulent shrub with thick zigzag stems native to dry tropical forests of Florida, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and northern South America.
Pedilanthus fleshy bract-cups are shaped like pink slippers and are only open at the tip. Pedilanthus, literally “slipper flower”, are members of the Euphorbiaceae family. This subtropical succulent is a distant relative of poinsettias. Devil’s Backbone grows 2′ to 4′ tall and 2′ to 3′ wide. It has 1″ to 3″ long leaves and makes an excellent potted plant or low shrub.
Pedilanthus is available in two varieties, green and variegated. The variegated form takes on a pinkish tint during cooler weather. Scroll down to see how they get gasoline from the Slipper Flower plant.
BONUS GREEN FACTOID: “Pedilanthus tithymaloides was evaluated as an incessantly renewable and potential source of hydrocarbons. Extracts were obtained from successive extraction of whole plant material with solvents like petroleum ether (b.p. 60_80°C), benzene (b.p. 80°C) and ethyl acetate (76_78°C). A white amorphous mixture of hydrocarbons was obtained by elution of the column by petroleum ether (b.p. 60_80°C) which was found to be comparable with gasoline.”
Potential use of Pedilanthus tithymaloides Poit. as a renewable resource of plant hydrocarbons
Plant Facts:
Common Name: Devil’s Backbone, Jacob’s Ladder, Slipper Flower
Botanical Name: Pedilanthus tithymaloides (ped e lan’ thus tith’ e ma loi’ dees), variegated
Family: Euphorbiaceae (yoo-for-bee-AY-see-ay)
Plant Type: Succulent Shrub
Origin: Sub-Tropical / Tropical Americas
Zones: 10 – 11, Sub-tropical — withstands light frost or short cold spells in protected areas
Height: 2′ – 4′
Rate of Growth: Medium
Salt Tolerance: Moderate
Soil Requirements: Moderately fertile, very but well-drained soil
Water Requirements: Water freely spring to autumn, keep fairly dry in winter, very drought tolerant
Nutritional Requirements: Balanced liquid fertilizer monthly
Light Requirements: Indirect sun to partial shade
Form: Upright, bushy, clump forming small shrub
Leaves: Mid-green and white mottled, evergreen or deciduous, 1″ to 3″, oval to elliptic, pink tinged in cooler weather
Flowers: Fleshy pink bract-cups resembling slippers to 1/2″ long, mid-spring – summer
Fruits:
Pests: Leaf spots, powdery mildew, stem spots
Uses: Shrub border, potted accent, possible renewable fuel source
Bad Habits: Milky sap in stems and leaves causes stomach distress if swallowed, may cause dermatitis
Cost: $ to $$ — inexpensive
Propagation: Stem-tip cuttings in summer
Source: American Horticultural Society A to Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants
