'Bonfire' Spurge (Euphorbia)
Perennial
- Foliage boasts red and orange hues from spring through fall!
- Blooms in late spring with chartreuse 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. Handle with gloves, as their sap may irritate the skin.
Details
Common name: Cushion spurge
Zone: 4 - 8
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.