Consulta Plantas

Care of the shrub Euphorbia rigida or Silver Spurge

The genus Euphorbia, family Euphorbiaceae, includes 2,000 species of succulents, trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants of cosmopolitan distribution. Some species are: Euphorbia rigida, Euphorbia lambii, Euphorbia piscatoria, Euphorbia regis-jubae, Euphorbia umbellata, Euphorbia pulcherrima, Euphorbia cotinifolia, Euphorbia milii, Euphorbia characias,  Euphorbia dendroides, Euphorbia leucocephala, Euphorbia anachoreta, Euphorbia tithymaloides.

Common names: Gopher plant, Silver Spurge. This species is native to the Mediterranean basin and the Middle East.

They are bushy plants with rigid branches that reach 50 cm (1.64 feet) in height. The tough leaves are spirally arranged, lanceolate in shape and bluish-green in color. They produce abundant small yellow flowers that turn reddish. They bloom from late winter to early spring.

Silver Spurge is used to form bushy groups, in rockery, on sunny slopes and in dry areas of the garden.

Euphorbia rigida needs full sun exposure and high temperatures. It resists frost down to -15 ºC (5 ºF).

Gopher plant can be grown in any well-drained soil, even poor, limestone, or saline soils.

Silver Spurge is very resistant to drought; it appreciates moderate watering in spring and summer, waiting for the substrate to dry well.

Prune older stems to strengthen the plant; do not touch the irritating latex produced by these plants.

Euphorbia rigida is a very resistant plant to the most common pests and diseases. It's very important to monitor excess watering.

Silver Spurge propagates by seeds sown in spring or by division also in spring.

Images of the shrub Euphorbia rigida or Silver Spurge