'Ascot Rainbow' Spurge (Euphorbia)
Perennial
- Variegated foliage takes on a kaleidoscope of color in cool temperatures!
- Blooms in late spring with variegated flowers.
- Ideal for containers, mixed beds, or xeriscaping.
- Handles drought, heat, deer, and rabbits with ease.
- Zones 5-9, sun to part sun, 20" tall and wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Spurges are shrub-like perennials that are easy to grow for gardeners of any level, as long as they're planted in well-draining soils. It's tolerant of heat, drought, and even poor soils, making it ideal for problematic or xeric sites. Since it's resistant to deer, rabbits, and diseases, it takes very little (or no maintenance) to remain attractive all season long. Plant it in full sun in northern zones and part sun (with afternoon shade) in southern zones for the best performance.
Caution: spurges are a relative of poinsettias, so they are also poisonous if ingested by humans or pets.
Details
Common name: Cushion spurge
Zone: 5 - 9
Sun exposure: Sun (> 6 hours sun) - part sun(4-6 hours sun)
Height x width: 12-18" X 12-18"
Flower color: Yellow
Foliage color: Green
Season of interest: Spring - fall
Bloom time: Spring
Features: Rabbit & deer resistant, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, cold tolerant
Uses: Accent, border, container gardening, cottage gardening, foundation planting, massing, ornamental, specimen
How to Grow
Light: Full sun (> 6 hours sun)-Part sun (4-6 hours sun)
Water: Water sparingly during the growing season. Plants have good tolerance for heat and drought.
Spacing: 18-20"
Fertilizing: Needs little to no fertilizing.
Winterizing: No special requirements.
Maintenance & pruning: Trim down in fall to ground level.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.
Arrived healthy and strong and have remained that way. We are in zone 9b and the spot we planted these in is in full sun all afternoon. Plus, this summer we had two periods of 100 plus degree weather lasting 4 to 5 days. These rainbow spurge made it through without one sign of distress. They have nearly doubled in size as well. Very happy with this purchase.
Replacement plant ordered looks great. It is a multi-colored plant and is growing well in the up and down weather systems of Michigan.
I've planted these multiple times in multiple years. First year - one of three returned. Skipped a year when zero returned. Planted next year, zero returned.
Breaks my heart because they are beautiful and appear to grow robustly, then nothing.
We’re sorry you’re having trouble with your plants! Our fall guarantee covers plants received after September 1 until May 2026, so we have you covered. Please send your order number and pictures of your plants to [email protected] to start the claims process. We look forward to helping! https://bit.ly/ggp-guarantee
Packaged perfectly and in ezcellent health
The plant passed away two days after it arrived. I have two other plants that do not look good from the same order
Hello! We’re sorry that you received plants that are not up to our standards. We try our best to provide excellent plants, but some factors, like shipping and handling, are outside our control. That’s why we have a 60-day guarantee on all of our orders. Please email your order number and pictures of your plants to [email protected] to start the claims process. We look forward to helping! https://bit.ly/ggp-guarantee
this plant is actually marginal in zone 5 despite description. grows well during season but has yet to overwinter. treat like an annual.
This plant is hardy in zones 5-9, and will overwinter in zone 5 gardens! If you have a problem with your order, please contact [email protected] with your order number and photos of the plants for further assistance! We look forward to helping.
Plants arrived looking great. We've been under a heat dome in North Carolina and the euphorbia is thriving under these harsh conditions.
Second order and so far everything has has looked great.
I hate the plastic bag attached to the pot with a giant metal loop. Despise it. Half the dirt falls out and the plant is already distressed/stressed out. Not buying anymore from your company. Plants are prepped for transport poorly. I buy lots of plants online and yours always arrive in the worst shape.
Hello! We’re sorry that you received plants that are not up to our standards. We try our best to provide excellent plants, but some factors, like shipping and handling, are outside our control. That’s why we have a fall guarantee on all of our orders. Our fall guarantee covers plants received after September 1 until May 2025, so we have you covered. Please email your order number and pictures of your plants to [email protected] to start the claims process. We look forward to helping! https://bit.ly/ggp-guarantee
3 plants were dead when the arrived
Hello! We’re sorry that you received plants that are not up to our standards. We try our best to provide excellent plants, but some factors, like shipping and handling, are outside our control. That’s why we have a 60-day guarantee on all of our orders. Our team of horticulture experts would love to take a closer look! Please contact us at [email protected] with your order number and photos of the plants so we can better assist you. All orders are covered by our 60-day guarantee. We look forward to helping! https://bit.ly/ggp-guarantee
Thank you for this opportunity to send you a review of my recent purchases. Altogether, I purchased a total of 42 plants ordered over a period of 30 days. I am very happy to report that each shipment (5 of them) were shipped exactly on my requested shipment date. This greatly facilitated my schedule for planting and it is equally important to mention that every plant arrived properly packaged and every plant arrived healthy. As of today, October 16, 2023, every plant survived and are doing exceptionally well. I see new growth on every plant and I am looking forward to seeing the results of my project this coming Spring! I am ranking greatgardenplants.com as my favorite online nursery and fully expect to use your services again next Spring when my next project(s) come up. Thank you and Well Done!
George
I love the healthy and decorative look of this plant so much that I ordered two more. The rabbits eat most everything I plant, but so far they have left my Spurge plant alone. I will send a picture as soon as the rain stops and I get the new two in the ground. Thank you!
Plants are growing> Hope to see colors soon!
Can’t wait for them to mature
This surge arrived healthy and has settled in to its part sun location without even wilting.
I received my 6, 3 died within 2 days. How do I get the 3 more replaced.
I'm sorry to hear you're having trouble with your 'Ascot Rainbow' Spurge. Please send pictures of the plants in question along with your order number to [email protected]. One of our excellent customer service representatives will be happy to help you!
How cold tolerant are the ascot rainbow
The 'Ascot Rainbow' Spurge is cold tolerant and is suited for hardiness zones 5 through 9. This means it can tolerate winter temperatures down to -20°F to -10°F, which is typical for zone 5 climates.
When do I prune my spurge? I'm in zone 9 and t receives full sun.
Hi there! You can prune 'Ascot Rainbow' Spurge in the fall by trimming the foliage down to the ground.
Love the ascot spurge just wondering why it is turning brown and it looks like it has dead branches
If you're noticing that your 'Ascot Rainbow' Spurge is turning brown and has what appears to be dead branches, it could be due to a few reasons. 'Ascot Rainbow' Spurge prefers well-drained soil and while the plant is tolerant of heat and drought, it's important to ensure it isn't experiencing extreme conditions for prolonged periods, as this can also cause stress and browning. The plant should be watered sparingly, but if it's been particularly hot or dry, it might need a bit more water than usual.
My ascot rainbow turned completely brown over the winter and appears dead. Will it come back this spring?
It should come back since it is a perennial. However, you can send us a picture of the plant to [email protected] for us to review.