Euphorbia comprises a large genus of plants inside of which there are over 2,000 species, meaning there is literally an endless choice of varieties. Of these, around 1200 are succulent species that provide some of the most remarkable shapes and look very similar to cacti. They are cultivated because of the range of foliage in architectural shapes they have but only a few are known for the flowers they produce. Those that do produce flowers bloom in the spring or summer and tend to go into dormancy come winter.
Of these non-succulent varieties, the Euphorbias are deciduous and the most popular flowering varieties include the traditional Christmas Poinsettia, the Poinsettia that is grown by most people over Christmas, as well as the familiar milkweed that is also known as the Euphorbia peplus.
Hardy Euphorbias for rockeries and flowerbeds
Most of the succulent varieties are not very hardy, and if there are being grown in the UK they do better when grown indoors. There are also lots of different hardy rockery varieties available too. There are many perennial varieties that provide much-needed winter colour, with many being evergreen, while some die back for winter before emerging again in spring. These perennial Euphorbia are what most gardeners in the UK will likely want to plant, such varieties include the Euphorbia amygdaloides purpura and the Euphorbia characias.
Easy to Care for
Whether they are flowering or not, Euphorbias are quite simple to care for and they require very little care and maintenance once they are established. Once fully established they are incredibly self-sufficient and won’t die from very much, besides too much care or too much watering.
Regular Care
Plant Euphorbia in full sun to partial shade
Euphorbias require areas with full sun but they do tolerate partial shade, especially the woodland varieties. If you have a flowering Euphorbia, full sun is a necessity to get the most out of the flowers. If you don’t provide it with full sun, the plant will put all of its resources and energy into maintaining itself rather than flowering. This effectively defeats the purpose of having a flowering variety in the first place, that being said, the foliage of many varieties is equally as stunning as the flowers themselves.
Even though there is very little you need to do to care for the plant, there are some specific requirements needed to give them the best chance of thriving.
Watering Euphorbias
First, unlike other succulents, Euphorbia does not tolerate long periods of drought so you need to keep a close eye on watering, especially if you are growing them in pots. You’ll have to water your plants sometimes weekly during the summer months. Effectively you want to water whenever the soil becomes dry on the surface, being careful not to overwater. Once you note that it’s dry enough, water it deeply but don’t let it sit in the water because this can lead to root rot.
Feeding Euphorbias
To help them get established when you first plant them, or during their growing season, you can add organic matter, like compost or fertiliser such as bone meal or fish blood and bone into the soil. If you are growing your Euphorbia in a container, you can give it a half-strength fertiliser on a monthly basis.
- ENHANCES PLANT QUALITY: Vitax Blood, Fish and Bone fertiliser improves the quality of vegetables, fruit, and flowers by providing essential nutrients for robust growth and vibrant blooms.
- BOOSTS GROWTH AND FOLIAGE: Containing nitrogen, this fish, blood and bone encourages strong growth and rich green foliage, ensuring healthy plants.
- PROMOTES ROOT AND FLOWER DEVELOPMENT: Phosphate support vigorous root growth, while added potash enhances flower color and improves ripening in fruits and vegetables.
- VERSATILE APPLICATION: Use throughout the growing season, either before sowing or planting, or as a top dressing. Water in after application and avoid use before rainfall to maximize effectiveness.
- SLOW RELEASE - Designed to provide sustained nutrition to your plants, encouraging stronger growth, healthier plants and increased yields
Pests and Diseases
The good news is, that Euphorbias are typically problem-free. Very few animals want to contend with the spiky needles or the milky sap they are known for. It’s worth noting that the milky sap can irritate the skin so always wear gloves when cutting them back or taking cuttings.
Mealybugs and spider mites
However, there are a few bugs that have taken a liking to Euphorbia. Mealybugs and spider mites are the most common pests and they will feed on your plant until such time as it eventually dies. These insects increase in numbers very rapidly so it’s essential that you catch the problem early on and rectify it by spraying the plants with a pesticide spray.
- Up to 2 weeks control of a wide range of pests
- Rapid action and long-lasting protection
- Use on flowers and a wide range of edibles
- Targets lily beetle, whitefly, scale, greenfly, red spider mite, blackfly, mealybug, thrips and leaf hopper
- Use outdoors and indoors
Root rot
As mentioned, they are susceptible to root rot. This really only happens when the plants are in wet soil for too long. By having well-draining soil and limiting the watering until it’s dry enough to require it, you can avoid this. Dig plenty of organic matter and grit into the soil if the area sometimes becomes waterlogged before planting.
Mildew
There are some issues of mildew if you have bad air circulation. You can correct this by changing the growing conditions to provide better airflow around your Euphorbia before you resort to a fungicide, however, in bad cases try to improve the air circulation and spray the plant with a fungicide.
- Systemic protection and control of blackspot, powdery mildew and rust
- Use on roses and other flowering or ornamental plants
- Protects new growth and protects plants for over 3 months, when used at intervals recommended in usage instructions
- Use between March to September
- Apply using a garden pressure sprayer washed before and after use
Pruning
Euphorbia usually falls into one of three pruning categories. Evergreen varieties just need the flowers trimmed when they have finished and turned brown. Varieties with biennial stems (which means they flower on the stems in the second year) just need the flowering stems cut back to ground level in autumn. Finally, deciduous varieties that die back for winter need all the stems cut back to ground level in autumn, ideally before the first frost.
Propagating Euphorbia
If you have a successful Euphorbia plant in your garden and you have decided you would like more there are two propagating options available to you. Firstly, you can propagate from seed, however, this is a very difficult process.
The second, and most common way to propagate is by taking cuttings. Be cautious of the fact that the cuttings ooze a sticky, milky white sap that is an irritant to the skin and the eyes so it’s important that you wear gloves during this process.
Some of our favourite varieties:
- Euphorbia grandialata will start out with upright growth and eventually spread into a thorny bush, producing coral red flower bracts in the summer.
- Euphorbia lactea has fan-like branches with black spines.
- Euphorbia milii is a thorny, bushy plant that provides floral bracts of red, orange, yellow and white throughout the year.
- Euphorbia obesa is round and plump and it has reddish stripes. It tolerates some shade.
- Euphorbia symmetrica is a smaller, round subspecies of the Euphorbia obesa.
- Perennial
- Pack six plug plants
- Characteristics: Hardy perennial with white flowers and semi-evergreen foliage that creates a great contrast against the blooms. A great way to brighten up your garden, pots or containers.
- Period of Interest: The plant will flower from late Summer into Autumn.
- Height and Spread: This Euphorbia has an ultimate height and spread of 0.5-1m.
- Plant Care: It should be planted in full sun with moist, well-drained soil. Water when the top soil is dry to touch.
- Easy Care: Give it a sunny spot of the garden, maintaining a moist soil that is watered well when the top soil is dry. Deadhead any spent flowers to encourage further growth.
- RICH GREEN FOLIAGE & BRIGHT LIME-GREEN BRACETS – Euphorbia robbiae develops a bold carpet of glossy, deep green, lance-shaped leaves that form an attractive evergreen groundcover. In spring, vivid lime-green bracts rise above the foliage in dense, domed clusters, creating a luminous display. With its spreading, rhizomatous habit reaching around 40–60 cm tall & 80–100 cm wide, it’s ideal for borders, underplanting schemes & layered woodland-inspired plantings. Set of 3x Euphorbia Plants.
- LARGE & WELL-ESTABLISHED PLANTS IN 1L ROOTBALLS – Many shop-bought ornamental perennials are sold in small pots with immature root systems that fail to anchor properly after transplanting. Our euphorbia plants are professionally grown in premium peat-free compost & supplied as structurally mature 11cm / 1-litre rootballs, with fibrous, well-ramified root architecture. Delivered at the optimal physiological stage for outplanting, our euphorbias establish quickly for stronger, faster growth.
- DESIGNED FOR TEXTURE, FORM & SEASON-LONG ORNAMENT – These architectural perennials are naturally suited to adding sculptural definition, layered texture & multi-season interest to garden spaces. Their distinctive bracts, clean silhouettes & persistent foliage allow them to create rhythmic accents, dynamic planting layers, pathway focal points & contemporary structural groupings that anchor borders with lasting colour variation, shape contrast & refined visual movement across the seasons.
- VERY EASY TO GROW & CARE FOR – Euphorbias are exceptionally low-maintenance plants that settle in quickly & perform well with minimal attention. They thrive in full sun or light shade & prefer well-drained soils, coping comfortably with a wide range of garden conditions. Requiring only occasional tidying after flowering, their steady growth & long-lasting ornamental bracts make them ideal for both beginners & seasoned gardeners, delivering reliable structure, colour & interest year after year.
- PLASTIC-FREE, GIFT-READY PACKAGING – We plant to reconnect with nature. But when plants arrive wrapped in plastic & non-recyclable waste, that intention fractures. It feels wrong to nurture life while harming the very environment it depends on. That’s why Verdant Living has chosen a different path. Straight from our nursery, we deliver our plants fresh & healthy in plastic-free, giftable packaging–just as nature intended. A thoughtful choice for you, your garden & the people you share it with.
- Low-Maintenance Gardening: Enjoy more beauty with less work! Our perennials thrive with minimal care, boasting deep root systems for efficient water and nutrient absorption. Perfect for the time-savvy gardener!
- Cost-Saving Greenery: Invest in your garden's future with plants that return each year. Our perennials eliminate the need for annual replanting, offering endless growth and savings. Plus, easy propagation means more plants for free!
- Soil Savior Plants: Enhance your garden's foundation with our perennials. Their deep roots improve soil health, prevent erosion, and promote moisture retention, paving the way for a thriving garden ecosystem.
- Bee Friendly Biodiversity: Support biodiversity with our selection of perennial plants. Attract birds, bees, and butterflies all year round, contributing to local wildlife and ecosystem health. Choose native varieties for an extra eco-boost!
- Originating from our UK based Nursery, we take pride in cultivating locally grown plants with unmatched quality and dedication..
- Evergreen foliage with seasonal colour change from blue-green to red.
- Lime green flowers with red centres in spring and early summer.
- Compact habit suitable for borders, containers, and gravel gardens.
- Drought-tolerant and low-maintenance once established.
- Evergreen foliage with seasonal colour change from blue-green to red.
- Lime green flowers with red centres in spring and early summer.
- Compact habit suitable for borders, containers, and gravel gardens.
- Drought-tolerant and low-maintenance once established.
- Characteristics: Compact, bushy, evergreen perennial shrub with purple stems bearing purple-red ovate leaves and small lime-green flowers from Spring.
- Growth & Spread: Ultimate height and spread of 0.5 – 1m.
- Period of Interest: Year-round foliage interest. Small clusters of bright, lime-green, cup-shaped flowers from mid-Spring through to Summer.
- Water & Maintenance: Plant in moist, well-drained soil. Keep in full or partial sun in a sheltered position. Harsh Winters and frost may cause leaf damage and dieback, but the plant will regrow the following Spring.
- Compact, neat dome of purple stems and grey-green leaves
- Red tips appear in autumn for added interest
- Acid-green bracts in spring enhance bulbs and other flowers
- Drought-tolerant and low-maintenance, perfect for containers
- Distinctive Traits: A compact, evergreen perennial sub-shrub, forming a mound of stems bearing lance-shaped leaves.
- Growth and Spread: Typically reaches a height of up to 50 cm and a spread of up to 45 cm.
- Seasonal Highlights: Blooms from May to June, providing vibrant floral interest in late spring and early summer.
- Thrives with Ease: Grow in well-drained, light soil in full sun. Once established, this drought-tolerant plant will cope effortlessly with dry sunny spots in poor soil.
- Radiant Spectrum: Features bright, yellow-green heads of floral bracts borne on red stems in late spring and early summer.
- Thrives in bright, direct sunlight (at least 4-6 hours daily). Can tolerate partial sun but blooms best in full sun.
- Drought-tolerant, so water sparingly. Let the soil dry out completely between waterings. Overwatering can cause root rot.
- Color & Size: Large, bright red flowers with a waxy texture. Blooming Season: Flowers year-round in warm climates, with peak blooms in spring and summer.
- To encourage more blooms, provide 6+ hours of sunlight, avoid overwatering, and fertilize monthly during the growing season.
Last update on 2026-05-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
