Myrtle Spurge
(Euphorbia myrsinites)
Myrtle Spurge (Euphorbia myrsinites)
/
/
botanygirl
CC BY 4.0
Image By:
botanygirl
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: botanygirl | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: botanygirl | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2018-04-05T18:45:20-07:00 |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Euphorbia myrsinites, commonly known as myrtle spurge, blue spurge, or broad-leaved glaucous-spurge, is an evergreen perennial succulent native to rocky and grassy places in Southeastern Europe and Asia Minor. It thrives in well-drained soils and can often be found in alpine gardens, slopes, and banks, reflecting its adaptation to dry, poor soils in its native habitat. Myrtle spurge has sprawling stems that grow to 20–40 cm long, with distinctive silver-gray foliage that provides year-round interest. The flowers are inconspicuous, but they are surrounded by bright sulfur-yellow bracts that are tinged red in the cultivar ’Washfield’; these showy bracts are most prominent during the spring flowering season.
Myrtle spurge is valued for its unique foliage color and texture, which makes it a striking addition to rock gardens, xeriscapes, and garden borders, particularly in ’modernist’ mass plantings. It is also suitable as a potted plant for patios and balconies. This plant is drought-tolerant, requiring minimal water once established, and prefers full sun exposure to maintain its vibrant leaf coloration. It is also well-suited to fast-draining soils and can tolerate poor fertility. However, gardeners should be cautious as Euphorbia myrsinites is known to be invasive in some regions, including parts of the United States, where it can outcompete native vegetation and spread aggressively. It is also capable of projecting seeds up to 15 feet, aiding in its spread. Additionally, all parts of the plant contain a milky sap that can be irritating to the skin and toxic if ingested, so handling with care is advised.CC BY-SA 4.0
Myrtle spurge is valued for its unique foliage color and texture, which makes it a striking addition to rock gardens, xeriscapes, and garden borders, particularly in ’modernist’ mass plantings. It is also suitable as a potted plant for patios and balconies. This plant is drought-tolerant, requiring minimal water once established, and prefers full sun exposure to maintain its vibrant leaf coloration. It is also well-suited to fast-draining soils and can tolerate poor fertility. However, gardeners should be cautious as Euphorbia myrsinites is known to be invasive in some regions, including parts of the United States, where it can outcompete native vegetation and spread aggressively. It is also capable of projecting seeds up to 15 feet, aiding in its spread. Additionally, all parts of the plant contain a milky sap that can be irritating to the skin and toxic if ingested, so handling with care is advised.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Herb
- Height: 0.5-1 feet
- Width: 0.5-1 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: Yellow, Green
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun
- Water: Low
- Drainage: Fast
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Border Plant, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Erosion Control, Groundcover, Potted Plant, Rabbit Resistant, Rock Garden, Showy Flowers, Street Planting
Natural Habitat
Rocky and grassy places in Southeastern Europe and Asia Minor
Other Names
Common Names: Blue Spurge, Broadleaf Glaucous Spurge, Myrtle Euphorbia, Upright Myrtle Spurge, Creeping Spurge, Donkey Tail Spurge, Walzen-Wolfsmilch, Euphorbe De Corse, Myrtentörel
Scientific Names: , Euphorbia myrsinites, Tithymalus myrsinites, Euphorbion myrsinitum, Endoisila myrsinites, Euphorbia rechingerae, Euphorbion myrsinites, Galarhoeus myrsinites, Murtekias myrsinites,
GBIF Accepted Name: Euphorbia myrsinites L.