Euphorbia griffithii 'Dixter'
Euphorbias are a diverse group of plants and this is one of the finest herbaceous species in the genus. Its new growth is bright orange/red as it emerges in the spring and as the growth matures it gradually fades to a grey-green with a white central mid-rib through each leaf.
In late spring it then bears bright orange/red flowers with a yellow centre, making fantastic early summer colour through a mixed border. At RHS Garden Hyde Hall you can find Euphorbia griffithii 'Dixter' in the Farmhouse Garden in a striking colour scheme of purple and orange. A similar variety named 'Fireglow' can also be found in the Queen Mother's Garden. Both cultivars prefer a humus-rich, moisture retentive soil and in these conditions they will form a neat clump.
Vital statistics
- Common name
- Spurge 'Dixter'
- Family
- Euphorbiaceae
- Height & spread
- 1m (3ft) x 1m (3ft)
- Form
- Herbaceous perennial.
- Soil
- Moist, humus-rich soil
- Aspect
- Partial shade
- Hardiness
- Hardy throughout the British Isles
Euphorbia
Euphorbia is a very varied genus of about 2,000 species of annuals, biennials, herbaceous perennials, shrubs, trees and succulents with an equally varied distribution in temperate, subtropical and tropical regions. They are adapted to a wide range of habitats, which has led to a great deal of variation in both size and growth habit.
Euphorbia is classically supposed to have been named for Euphorbus, physician to the King of Mauritania.
Euphorbia griffithii 'Dixter'
From Bhutan, Tibet and South West China, this is a rhizomatous, vigorous perennial with erect stems that are attractively reddish when young. It has lance-shaped leaves that turn from dark green to red and yellow in autumn. Its flowerheads are yellow, orange and red. 'Dixter' has darker foliage than the species, that is copper-tinted, with dusky orange flowerheads. A word of warning: it can be invasive in some gardens.
Cultivation
- Grow in moist, humus-rich soil in light dappled shade; can be invasive on light soils
- After the plant has finished flowering in June prune back the flowering stems as close to the base as possible to encourage plenty of new shoots for flowering the following year.
- Euphorbias are relatively untroubled by pests and diseases but may be affected by a rust.
- All parts are highly toxic by ingestion; sap may irritate skin and eyes.
Propagation
- Take cuttings early in the season when growth of the stem is taking place. Use young basal shoots and do not remove too many leaves as this will weaken the cutting and make handling difficult without getting the irritant latex on your hands.
- Dip cut surfaces in charcoal or lukewarm water to prevent bleeding
AGM
The RHS Herbaceous Plant Committee awarded Euphorbia griffithii 'Dixter' an Award of Garden Merit and described it as a:
'Spreading rhizomatous perennial to 90cm, making a thicket of erect stems clothed with narrow dark green, red-tinged leaves and ending in a cluster of bright orange-red flowers.'