Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Evergreen euphorbias for winter interest?

greatnorthernexoticgreatnorthernexotic Posts: 119
in Plants
Does anyone have any suggestions for types of euphorbia that are truly evergreen and will help me fill the winter gaps in my borders?

There are lots of types of euphorbia listed as evergreen online, but when I read into them it'll suggest cutting them to the ground in winter.

Euphorbia mellifera (honey spurge) is one that I know of. Any more?
Growing tropical and desert plants outdoors in West Yorkshire
INSTAGRAM/ YOUTUBE
«1

Posts

  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    edited May 2022
    Euphorbia characias wulfenii will fit the bill!  The flowering stems are biennial - you cut those that have flowered down to the base once they fade, the others growing below without flowers will replace them the following year so you're never without flowers in winter/spring.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • Dinnerplatedahlias🌸Dinnerplatedahlias🌸 Posts: 99
    My Euphorbia Robbiae stays evergreen I literally don’t touch it. 
    It starts flowering late March and the lime green flowers stay there till near enough the end of summer. I let them go a bit brown and leave them there over winter but the foliage remains green 👍

    It’s also very happy in this shady north facing border. Heavy clay soil. Super easy to propagate too.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I don't cut mine back unless there's damage, or if they get a bit sprawly. I just take the heads/bracts off. They also produce new stems. I've just done a few cuttings of mine. The new growth has reddish tips.

    I have Redwing, or one that's very similar. I can't honestly remember which one it is. This was from a few years ago. 






    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Here's a couple of photos of E. characias wulfenii, the first as it is now, due to be cut back, the second another similar sized one now cut back to this year's new flowering stems.

     
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    There are three different pruning techniques for different types of Euphorbia, well detailed here: Pruning Euphorbias (In Pictures) - BBC Gardeners World Magazine

    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • greatnorthernexoticgreatnorthernexotic Posts: 119
    That's great - thanks for the tips everyone!
    Growing tropical and desert plants outdoors in West Yorkshire
    INSTAGRAM/ YOUTUBE
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    Euphorbia Mellifera isn’t truly evergreen here, it’s leaves droop and go very scrappy ugly in winter, stems keel over, so I end up cutting it back. But it’s possible I get colder winters than you. Don’t look at my location and laugh, I’m oop north in the mountains and get prolonged winter freezes!
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    Honey Pot (Euphorbia x pasteurii) is evergreen and is a beauty. 



  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    Euphorbia amygdaloides purpurea is one that I have that is evergreen or ever purple :)
    The older winter leaves are a bit duller, but still maintain a presence and it looks lovely in spring with new leaves and lime green flowers. Not too tall, mine grows in dappled shade in my 'stumpery', with ferns and other small treasures.
  • greatnorthernexoticgreatnorthernexotic Posts: 119
    TheGreenMan said:
    Honey Pot (Euphorbia x pasteurii) is evergreen and is a beauty. 



    Looks great this one - similar to the mellifera. Thanks!
    Growing tropical and desert plants outdoors in West Yorkshire
    INSTAGRAM/ YOUTUBE
Sign In or Register to comment.