Cushion spurge
Euphorbia epithymoides · Euphorbiaceae
📷 Chrumps · CC BY-SA 4.0
⚠️ Sève irritante ; contact cause dermatite chez chiens/enfants ; ingestion provoque irritation gastrique.
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant cushion spurge: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Foliage
- Deciduous, green then colorful in autumn
- Flowering
- April to May, bright yellow bracts
- Mature size
- 40 cm tall, 50 cm wide
- Growth rate
- Moderate to fast
- Hardiness
- Very hardy (-15 °C)
- Origin
- Central and southeastern Europe
- Soil type
- Well-drained, chalky, poor to average
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Euphorbia epithymoides forms a compact ball in full sun: well-drained soil, not rich. Cut back hard (5 cm) just after flowering to maintain thick shape.
The common mistake
Leaving it unpruned: it gets straggly, opens up in the center, becomes unsightly and flowers less profusely.
The pro's trick
In May after flowering, cut back with shears without hesitation: it fills in within 4-6 weeks and stays dense all summer.
Care
Light
Place your polychrome spurge in full sun to get the best bract colors. It tolerates partial shade but flowers less abundantly. Choose a well-exposed location, sheltered from strong winds that can damage it.
Watering
Water regularly during the spring-summer growing season, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings. Once established, the plant is quite tolerant of drought. Reduce watering considerably after flowering and in winter.
Soil and planting
Prepare light, well-drained and preferably chalky soil. Accepts poor to average soils, making it ideal for rock gardens or difficult terrain. Incorporate gravel or sand if your soil is too compact.
Fertilizer
A frugal plant that requires little fertilizer. Light feeding in spring is more than enough. Enriched soil promotes vegetation at the expense of flowering, so avoid excess.
Pruning and tidying
Prune after flowering (June) to maintain a compact and dense shape. Remove dead or damaged stems in early spring before growth resumes. Pinch the tips of young plants to encourage branching.
Diseases and pests
Generally very resistant. Beware of excess moisture which causes root rot: ensure proper drainage. Spider mites and aphids may appear in hot, dry conditions; spray early if necessary.
Did you know?
The polychrome spurge owes its name 'polychrome' to its spectacular foliage chameleon: in spring it displays tender green foliage, then during flowering its bracts turn brilliant yellow, before turning orange and then red in autumn. This chromatic transformation made it a star of the forgotten gardens of the nineteenth century throughout the seasons.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Wood spurgeEuphorbia amygdaloides
- Caper spurgeEuphorbia lathyris
- Albanian spurgeEuphorbia characias
- Spiny spurgeEuphorbia spinosa
- Garden crotonCodiaeum variegatum
- Griffith's spurgeEuphorbia griffithii
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.