Shorty Evergreen Spurge
Euphorbia characias 'Shorty'
Height: 3 feet
Spread: 16 inches
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 6b
Other Names: Mediterranean Spurge, Euphorbia wulfenii
Description:
An attractive, bold plant for a sunny border; narrow blue-green foliage arranged symetrically will blush with red hues in fall and winter; flower bracts are massed and showy atop the stems; adds a truly exotic dimension to the garden
Ornamental Features
Shorty Evergreen Spurge is primarily valued in the garden for its ornamental upright and spreading habit of growth. It has masses of beautiful clusters of yellow flowers with chartreuse bracts held atop the stems from late winter to mid spring, which are most effective when planted in groupings. Its attractive narrow leaves are powder blue in color. The foliage often turns crimson in fall.
Landscape Attributes
Shorty Evergreen Spurge is an herbaceous evergreen perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.
This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Shorty Evergreen Spurge is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Mass Planting
- Rock/Alpine Gardens
- Border Edging
- General Garden Use
Planting & Growing
Shorty Evergreen Spurge will grow to be about 30 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 16 inches. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 8 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.
This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in sandy soils. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America, and parts of it are known to be toxic to humans and animals, so care should be exercised in planting it around children and pets. It can be propagated by cuttings; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.
