Euphorbia

If you'd like a low-maintenance annual for your beds, borders, or containers, it's tough to find a better performer than euphorbia. This group of plants offers outstanding heat and drought resistance. Plus, they have a white, milky sap that animals don't like, so they're rarely nibbled on by deer, rabbits, or other critters. (Be warned, though: The sap can irritate sensitive skin.)

The wide variety of euphorbia selections offers different heights, colors, and textures in the garden.

Light:

Sun,Part Sun

Zones:

2-11

Plant Type:

Annual

Plant Height:

To 3 feet tall

Plant Width:

To 2 feet wide

Flower Color:

White, variegated leaves

Bloom Time:

Spring, summer, fall

Landscape Uses:

Containers,Beds & Borders

Special Features:

Flowers,Attractive Foliage,Drought Tolerant,Deer Resistant,Easy to Grow

Top Varieties

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Diamond Frost euphorbia

Euphorbia 'Inneuphdia' Diamond Frost is one of the most popular container plants. A wonderfully heat- and drought-tolerant plant, it produces a continuous supply of frothy blooms from spring to fall. It grows 18 inches tall and 24 inches wide.
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Elkhorn euphorbia

Euphorbia lactea cristata Elkhorn is commonly grown as an annual or houseplant. It features wrinkled, fanlike foliage streaked with silvery green. It grows 2 feet tall and wide. Outdoors in Zones 10-11
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Firesticks euphorbia

Euphorbia tirucallii 'Rosea', or Firesticks, is a tropical selection often grown as an annual. This distinct variety has leafless stems in shades of bright orange, red, and pink. It grows 36 inches tall and 24 inches wide. Perennial in Zones 9-11
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Helena's Blush euphorbia

Euphorbia 'Inneuphhel' Helena's Blush is a perennial but is often grown as an annual in containers. It bears green foliage blushed with purple and edged in creamy yellow. The plant grows 20 inches tall and wide. Perennial in Zones 6-9
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Snow on the mountain

Euphorbia marginata, or snow on the mountain, shows off green foliage that develops a white edge in late summer and fall. This self-seeding annual has clusters of white flowers at the end of the season and grows 3 feet tall and 1 foot wide.
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Plant It With

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Angelonia

_Angelonia_'s purple, white, or pink flowers are perfect accents to Diamond Frost euphorbia's frothy white flowers.

Coralbells

Purple, bronze, or chartreuse coralbells make a beautiful textural contrast to Helena's Blush euphorbia.

Cosmos

Cosmos, especially white selections, looks great with a planting of snow on the mountain euphorbia.

Propagation

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Seed