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Great Design Plant: Euphorbia
The daring colors and low water needs of this tropical plant make it a favorite for injecting life into tired landscapes year-round
A design darling of low-water landscapes everywhere, Euphorbia is a plant for every season and all occasions. With more than 2,000 species identified in the genus, available colors, sizes and growing needs are limitless. Comprising mostly succulents and other tropicals, it offers a prismatic spectrum of floral and foliar hues that reflect the exotic locales from which it originates.
Euphorbia is popular today but has deep-rooted ties to landscape history and human consumption. It was named in honor of the Greek physician Euphorbus, and medicinal and biological studies of the plant span millennia. And whether or not we realize, most of us spend every December in the company of Euphorbia's most famous member, Euphorbia pulcherrima — the Christmas poinsettia. Now that we're all impressed with our plant knowledge, let's take a look at some of the more colorful species of the genus per the recommendations of landscape designer Eileen Kelly.
Euphorbia is popular today but has deep-rooted ties to landscape history and human consumption. It was named in honor of the Greek physician Euphorbus, and medicinal and biological studies of the plant span millennia. And whether or not we realize, most of us spend every December in the company of Euphorbia's most famous member, Euphorbia pulcherrima — the Christmas poinsettia. Now that we're all impressed with our plant knowledge, let's take a look at some of the more colorful species of the genus per the recommendations of landscape designer Eileen Kelly.
Botanical name: Euphorbia spp
Common names: Spurge
USDA zones: Varies
Water needs: Moderate
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Tolerances: Drought, deer, heat, cold
Caution: Milky white sap is irritating to skin and toxic if ingested. Gardening gloves are a must. For cut flowers, hold the stems over a flame or in boiling water for a few seconds to seal the ends.
Common names: Spurge
USDA zones: Varies
Water needs: Moderate
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Tolerances: Drought, deer, heat, cold
Caution: Milky white sap is irritating to skin and toxic if ingested. Gardening gloves are a must. For cut flowers, hold the stems over a flame or in boiling water for a few seconds to seal the ends.
| Euphorbia characias (zones 8 to 11). Add architectural structure and stimulating color to your garden with E. characias. Reaching a height upward of 4 feet, the upright dome of E. characias is one of the largest. Dense, chalky blue foliage brightens the garden year-round, and a vivid crown of chartreuse flowers tops the plant come spring. Grown in full sun, the shrub holds it color well through the season, only needing to be trimmed back once the stalks yellow. E. characias pairs neon colors with cooler hues for a truly modern design juxtaposition. |
| Euphorbia characias 'Tasmanian Tiger' (zones 7 to 9). Lighten up the landscape with this flaxen Euphorbia cultivar. Hardy to freezing temperatures, Tasmanian Tiger grows to 3 feet tall and wide. White-edged flower bracts top white-edged leaves in spring, making this smaller cousin a great color complement to the straight species. |
| Euphorbia myrsinites (zones 5 to 8). Choose this low-lying species when in need of a ground cover. Petite blue-gray leaves densely spiral around stiffly arching stems. Citrine-colored flowers tip stems in early spring. Trailing stems cascade beautifully over rock gardens, as shown here, and the vivid color combination pairs beautifully with succulents or other similarly hued plants. |
| Euphorbia 'Blackbird' (zones 6 to 10). In tune with the name, the dusty dark foliage of Blackbird reaches a deep black when planted in full sun. Red and yellow-green flowers top the shrub in spring, picking up and highlighting accent colors of surrounding plants and garden features. This low-maintenance, high-impact shrub grows to 3 feet tall and is the perfect segue into bold garden color for gardeners who typically prefer neutral landscapes. |
| Euphorbia amygdaloides robbiae (zones 5 to 7). One of the most shade tolerant of Euphorbias, E. amygdaloides robbiae is a great planting solution for under your shady canopy trees. Dark green leathery leaves grow on reddish stems to about 1 foot tall. Spreading vigorously by rhizomes, this species may need to be monitored for invasiveness. Early summer brings bold yellow flowers, and winter heightens the red coloring on the underside of the leaves and stems. |
| Euphorbia x martinii 'Ascot Rainbow' (zones 5 to 9). Are these colors for real? Slim variegated leaves cascade down the length of the 3-foot stems in a rainbow of colors — dark green to yellow to red. During the cooler months of spring and fall, the leaves become especially ornamental, blushing even more vibrant shades of pink. Spring also brings the flowers — a cluster of chartreuse cyathiums with only the slightest glimpse of red. And while this particular plant flowers in spring and summer, its prismatic foliage is evergreen. |
| How to use it. Shown here en masse with low-water plants Senecio, Agave, Anigozanthos and other ornamental grasses, Euphorbia shows texture and coloring that volumizes the design and adds a fuller and softer texture to the plant palette. Kelly often combines Euphorbias with companion plants such as succulents, Bulbine, Leucadendron and other low-water-need plants. This makes irrigation and other landscape maintenance much more efficient and responsible. |
by Gast Architects
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Euphorbia is also a great container plant. See how attractive pairing multiple species is on this roof terrace.
Planting notes. Euphorbia needs well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade to thrive. Be sure to trim back stems after flowers fade, as new growth will already be pushing out and raring to go for the next season.
Planting notes. Euphorbia needs well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade to thrive. Be sure to trim back stems after flowers fade, as new growth will already be pushing out and raring to go for the next season.
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| More great design plants: Red-Leafed Mukdenia | Blue Chalk Sticks | Hens-and-Chicks | Redtwig Dogwood | Toyon Great design trees: Bald Cypress | Chinese Witch Hazel | Japanese Maple | Manzanita | Persian Ironwood Smoke Tree | Texas Mountain Laurel | Tree Aloe Great design flowers: Catmint | Golden Creeping Jenny | Pacific Coast Iris | Plumbago | Red Kangaroo Paw Sally Holmes Rose | Slipper Plant | Snake Flower Great design grasses: Black Mondo Grass | Cape Rush | Feather Reed Grass | New Zealand Wind Grass |
Ideabook published on April 2, 2012.
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A stunning tough low water plant but need to be so careful of the milky sap which can cause skin irritation. Probably even worse the tiniest bit in your eyes can cause unbelievable pain and as sap is a latex its very hard to wash out. Don't be put off by this but keep it in mind and warn people if using it in a client's garden.