Euphorbia

RHS Genus Guide

Euphorbias are among the most useful of garden and house plants. Some make imposing domes of foliage while others create more modest but good ground cover. In addition to the hardworking foliage, their flowers, often a zingy acid yellow, are usually long-lasting. Botanically related are the tender, succulent euphorbias and houseplants that hail from arid or tropical areas of the world.

Common name: Spurge

RHS/Sarah Cuttle

RHS Recommended

Euphorbia

African milk barrel

Euphorbia horrida

African milk barrel

Height: 1–1.5 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

Canary spurge

Euphorbia mellifera

Canary spurge

Height: 1.5–2.5 metres
Width: 1.5–2.5 metres

broad-leaved glaucous spurge

Euphorbia myrsinites

broad-leaved glaucous spurge

Height: Up to 10cm
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

spurge 'Black Pearl'

Euphorbia characias 'Black Pearl'

spurge 'Black Pearl'

Height: 0.5–1 metres
Width: 0.5–1 metres

horned spurge

Euphorbia cornigera

horned spurge

Height: 0.5–1 metres
Width: 0.5–1 metres

Mrs Robb's bonnet

Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae

Mrs Robb's bonnet

Height: 0.1–0.5 metres
Width: 1–1.5 metres

crown of thorns

Euphorbia milii

crown of thorns

Height: 0.5–1 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

Balkan spurge

Euphorbia oblongata

Balkan spurge

Height: 0.5–1 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

spurge 'Fireglow'

Euphorbia griffithii 'Fireglow'

spurge 'Fireglow'

Height: 0.5–1 metres
Width: 0.5–1 metres

Mediterranean spurge

Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii

Mediterranean spurge

Height: 1–1.5 metres
Width: 1–1.5 metres

Martin's spurge 'Ascot Rainbow'

Euphorbia × martini 'Ascot Rainbow'^PBR (v)

Martin's spurge 'Ascot Rainbow'

Height: 1–1.5 metres
Width: 0.5–1 metres

spurge [Diamond Frost]

Euphorbia hypericifolia Diamond Frost

spurge [Diamond Frost]

Height: 0.1–0.5 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

Award of Garden Merit

Plants for pollinators

See all Euphorbia