- Botanical name: Euphorbia myrsinites
- Common name: Spurge
- Family: Euphorbiaceae
- Plant Type: Perennial
Yellow
Green
- Key features:
- Dramatic foliage
- Flowers
An unusual plant, Euphorbia myrsinites resembles a cluster of elongated silvery-green fir cones, with pale silvery green scale-like leaves overlapping all the way along the prostrate stems. In early summer these have typical flat heads of yellow euphorbia flowers at the ends. Drought tolerant, it’s a good plant to grow in a rock garden or in a hollow topped wall, but also thrives in any hot dry sunny situation where drainage is good and the soil does not stay wet in winter. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
Grow Euphorbia myrsinites at the front of borders, in a gravel garden or bank. Its striking shape and texture make it a good winter patio plant.
Always wear gloves when working with euphorbias. The milky sap is a skin irritant.
How to grow Euphorbia myrsinites
-
Plant size
15cm height
30cm spread
-
Aspect
South facing, west facing
-
Position in border
Front
- Sun exposure: Full sun
- Hardiness: Hardy
- Soil type: Well drained / light / sandy / chalky / alkaline / acidic
Plant calendar
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plant | ||||||||||||
Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do Plant in June |
J
Do not Plant in July |
A
Do not Plant in August |
S
Do not Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
Flowers | ||||||||||||
Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does not flower in April |
M
Plant does flower in May |
J
Plant does flower in June |
J
Plant does not flower in July |
A
Plant does not flower in August |
S
Plant does not flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
Divide | ||||||||||||
Divide |
J
Do not Divide in January |
F
Do not Divide in February |
M
Do Divide in March |
A
Do Divide in April |
M
Do Divide in May |
J
Do not Divide in June |
J
Do not Divide in July |
A
Do not Divide in August |
S
Do not Divide in September |
O
Do not Divide in October |
N
Do not Divide in November |
D
Do not Divide in December |
Prune | ||||||||||||
Prune |
J
Do not Prune in January |
F
Do not Prune in February |
M
Do not Prune in March |
A
Do not Prune in April |
M
Do not Prune in May |
J
Do not Prune in June |
J
Do not Prune in July |
A
Do not Prune in August |
S
Do Prune in September |
O
Do Prune in October |
N
Do Prune in November |
D
Do not Prune in December |
Euphorbia myrsinites and wildlife
Euphorbia myrsinites has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
Is Euphorbia myrsinites poisonous?
Euphorbia myrsinites can be toxic. Its sap is toxic.
Toxic to Cats
Toxic to Dogs
Toxic to Horses
Toxic to People
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Livestock