Euphorbia tithymaloides is native to tropical and subtropical areas of North America, Central America and Mexico. It is a shrub-like succulent that is drought tolerant, preferring a well-draining potting medium and a location of full sun to partial shade. The stems of this Euphorbia grow in a zigzag pattern, giving it one of its common names of Zig Zag Plant, and the small red flowers are described by some as resembling tiny red birds, giving it another common name of Redbird Cactus. The plant is easily propagated by taking stem cuttings and sticking them in soil. Contact with the milky sap of this plant may cause skin irritations.

I received a cutting of this plant in a trade in 2007. It rooted quickly but grew a bit scraggly and wasn't a favorite of mine at first. After a while I moved it into more sunlight and pruned it up a bit. I like the interesting zigzag growth habit, and the foliage sometimes takes on a rose blush which is quite attractive. I grow this plant on the dry side. It only gets water when we have rain and from the irrigation system once a week.

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Euphorbia tithymaloides has a large number of common names. Among them are buck-thorn, cimora misha, Christmas Candle, Devil's Backbone, Fiddle Flower, ipecacuahana, Jacob's Ladder, Japanese Poinsettia, Jew's Slipper, Jewbush, Milk-Hedge, Myrtle-Leaved Spurge, Padus-Leaved Clipper Plant, Red Slipper Spurge, Redbird Cactus, Redbird Flower, Slipper Flower, Slipper Plant, Slipper Spurge, timora misha, and Zig-Zag Plant.

In other parts of the world, it is known as gin-ryu (Japan); pokok lipan and penawar lipan (Indonesia); airi, baire, and agia (India); aperejo (Yoruba); sapatinho do diablo (Brazil); itamo real (Puerto Rico); pantoufle (France); and zapatilla del diablo (Mexico).

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