7 Euphorbias for borders
The best varieties
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Euphorbias encompass a multitude of species and varieties, which are very different from one another in terms of foliage (shape and colour), flowering, height, and the habit of the plant. Depending on the species, euphorbias can indeed be small and carpet-like or, conversely, very large and upright. Small euphorbias, with a habit that is both compact and dense, are in fact perfect for highlighting and enhancing flower beds. They can create stunning borders if placed at the front of a bed, in front of taller plants. With their covering foliage, they limit the growth of weeds and thus reduce the need for weeding. Discover in this guide the best euphorbias for creating beautiful flower bed borders!
→ And to learn everything about their cultivation, feel free to check our guide Euphorbias: planting, growing, and care and verify with our application Plantfit that the chosen plants are well suited to your garden!
Euphorbia polychroma
Euphorbia polychroma forms a small, rounded and spreading clump, reaching no more than 40-50 cm in all directions. It flowers in April-May and offers beautiful bright yellow inflorescences that appear almost fluorescent. The flowers stand out against the dark green foliage! This euphorbia thrives in full sun or partial shade, in rather cool soil, and is perfect for brightening up a somewhat dark border. You can easily create a very bright scene by pairing it with perennials and bushes that have yellow flowers: for example, with Iris germanica ‘Grand Canari’, primroses, ‘West Point’ tulips, Erysimum ‘Zwerg Jaune’ wallflowers, a Kerria japonica, and a broom Cytisus praecox ‘Allgold’.
The very bright flowering of Euphorbia polychroma (photo Adobe Stock)
Euphorbia cyparissias
Euphorbia cyparissias is a lovely small groundcover plant, forming a groundcover that does not exceed 30 cm in height and 50 cm in spread. Its very light foliage, made up of fine leaves resembling the needles of conifers, is particularly appreciated. The leaves take on beautiful orange hues in autumn. From April to June, it also bears lovely yellow flowers at the tips of its stems. Euphorbia cyparissias thrives in full sun, in well-drained soil, and fits perfectly into a rock garden. Create a beautiful scene by pairing it with other plants that enjoy warmth and relatively dry soils, such as lavender, Stachys byzantina, silver wormwood Artemisia canescens, yarrow, eryngiums, sedums, and Phlomis fruticosa.
The very fine, bluish leaves of Euphorbia cyparissias (photo Adobe Stock)
Discover other Euphorbia - Spurge
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Euphorbia myrsinites
The Corsican spurge is a small spreading species, reaching no more than 10 cm in height. It has spreading stems close to the ground, bearing broad, thick, bluish-green leaves. At the ends of these stems, bright flowers appear from May to July, in a shade between chartreuse green and golden yellow. Preferring warmth, Corsican spurge thrives in full sun in perfectly drained soil, without stagnant moisture. Completely hardy, it can withstand temperatures down to -15 °C, or even lower. It makes an ideal border for a dry bed, for example in a Mediterranean or exotic garden. It pairs beautifully with grasses such as Elymus magellanicus, which shares its lovely bluish hue, as well as with stipa and fescues. You can also plant it alongside lavenders, cistus, agaves, and helianthemums for a beautiful Mediterranean scene.
The beautiful bluish leaves of Euphorbia myrsinites resemble scales (photo Guilhem Vellut)
Euphorbia 'Black Bird'
Euphorbia ‘Black Bird’ boasts a compact and fairly dense habit, with stunning deep purple foliage that is almost black. It is the ideal variety to highlight a border by creating a lovely contrast! It grows quickly but does not exceed 40 cm in height. From March to May, it produces yellow-orange inflorescences borne on red peduncles. Its foliage is evergreen, remaining decorative even in winter. This euphorbia thrives in full sun or partial shade, in ordinary but well-drained soil. Take advantage of its dark foliage to showcase bright perennials for a vibrant border! Consider, for example, the golden foliage of Eryngium ‘Neptune’s Gold’, Pennisetum ‘Hameln Gold’, and Pinus mugo ‘Golden Glow’. For flowering options, you might choose Draba aizoides, Alyssum saxatile ‘Goldkugel’, and Euryops chrysanthemoides.
The purple foliage and flowering of Euphorbia ‘Black Bird’
Euphorbia martinii 'Baby Charm'
Derived from Euphorbia martinii, the ‘Baby Charm’ variety is distinguished by its dwarf and compact form. In fact, it does not exceed 30 cm in height, making it perfect for the front of a flowerbed, to border it. It bears dark green, evergreen leaves. The euphorbia ‘Baby Charm’ flowers in spring, from April to June, offering beautiful light green – almost yellow inflorescences, adorned with red nectariferous glands. Drought-resistant, it thrives in a sunny location and well-drained soil (it is sensitive to winter moisture). This euphorbia is ideal for a garden without irrigation, with a mineral predominance, alongside other water-efficient plants. Pair it with lavenders, nepeta, creeping ceanothus (for example, Ceanothus thyrsiflorus ‘Repens’), as well as the beautiful flowering of red valerian (Centranthus ruber) and Phlomis cashmeriana.
Euphorbia x martinii ‘Baby Charm’ offers a stunning acid green flowering, adorned with red nectariferous glands!
Euphorbia polychroma 'Bonfire'
‘Bonfire’ is a variety of polychrome spurge distinguished by its dark, purplish foliage! It has a very rounded shape and does not exceed 30 cm in height and 40 cm in spread. It thrives in full sun or partial shade, in soil that remains relatively cool, although once established it can tolerate occasional drought. In April to May, sometimes until June, its foliage is illuminated by orange-yellow flowering, which stands out beautifully against this dark backdrop. The inflorescences, measuring 4 to 8 cm in diameter, are borne at the top of each stem. In the garden, we recommend pairing it with the decorative foliage of heucheras and lady’s mantle, as well as the bright flowering of ‘Charming Lady’ tulips, daffodils, and primroses.
The yellow flowering of Euphorbia polychroma ‘Bonfire’ is highlighted by its purplish foliage (photo Valleybrook Gardens)
Euphorbia cyparissias 'Fens Ruby'
Euphorbia ‘Fens Ruby’ is a stunning variety derived from Euphorbia cyparissias, but it differs with its dark foliage. It features small purplish leaves, fine like conifer needles, which turn a reddish-orange hue in autumn. From April to June, it also offers a very bright yellow-green flowering. This is a rhizomatous perennial with a carpet habit that spreads gradually. This euphorbia particularly enjoys full sun and dry soils. Its dark colour is perfect for highlighting the silvery foliage of Stachys byzantina, wormwoods, and Cerastium. It will also complement the flowering of yarrow, the great chamomile Tanacetum parthenium, and gaura.
Euphorbia cyparissias ‘Fens Ruby’ in combination with the golden foliage of Tanacetum parthenium ‘Aureum’ (photo Virginie Douce) / the yellow inflorescences of euphorbia ‘Fens Ruby’ stand out against its dark foliage
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