This is one plant made in America! Devil's Backbone is native to the warmest temperate zones from the US and other warm locales down to Central America. Almond shaped, bright, grass green, succulenty leaves stack close together evenly right and left on fat succulenty stems. It's those stems! Sometimes straight and orderly, some decide to zigzag crazily in even angles like the crooked backbone you would think the Devil has. Stems poke straight up out of the pot, then will lean when fully laden with leaves. Some plants reach up to a large 8' outside but you should expect at least 2' to 6' inside.When it's time to flower a strong peduncle rises up from the top and branches out to a batch of bright red, long, pointy buds sitting sideways looking for all the world like a flock of colorful birds landed on it giving way to the nickname of "redbird flower". Add to that "Jew's slipper", "Christmas candle" and others. It seems like this widely distributed guy is known and nicknamed in many foreign countries worldwide. A most useful plant, it is planted in the most inhospitable places where nothing else will grow, in toxic soil and other waste places. Other uses in various countries and indigineous groups include medicines, an addition to some drinks and a possible idea of using it as a petrocrop, grown to develop an alternative biofuel. Be careful! That useful sap is toxic and you don't want any contact with it.
- Drought Tolerant
Quick Care Guide:
- Water - Medium (3): Water plant when dry. Plant does not like soil to always be moist, but doesn't like to stay dry once becomes dry. Water as soon as soil is dry.
- Light - Medium (3): Plant prefers natural, diffused light. Can be placed in a spacious living room. Indirect light preferred. No direct sunlight on leaves.
- Difficulty - Medium (3): Not too difficult to keep happy, but does require some attention.