How big does Myrtle spurge grow?

About 20 cm × 50 cm after ten years (height × width). Its ultimate size is 10–30 cm × 15–60 cm.

What soil does Myrtle spurge grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, sandy, calcareous.

Is Myrtle spurge hardy?

Hardy down to -29 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

When does Myrtle spurge flower?

Flowering: March–May, yellow, green.

How much water does Myrtle spurge need?

Water need: low. Drought tolerance: high.

Myrtle spurge

Euphorbia myrsinites

Myrtle spurge (Euphorbia myrsinites) is a ground cover plant that reaches 20 cm × 50 cm after ten years. Light: full sun. Hardy down to -29 °C. Drought tolerance: high. Toxic to children. Sold in local shops from about €5.

Illustration of Myrtle spurge — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

An evergreen, blue-grey spurge whose trailing stems, clad in spirals of leaves, sprawl between stones like tentacles and end in vivid yellow-green flower heads in early spring. It is at its best in the hottest, driest, stoniest spots and needs no watering. The milky sap strongly irritates skin and eyes and is toxic if swallowed, so wear gloves and keep it away from places children and pets can reach. It seeds itself generously: cut back the spent flowering stems after bloom.

Watch out for

Self-seeds heavily, with capsules that throw seed several metres, so seedlings turn up in paving cracks and neighbouring beds; in Central Europe it has been found escaped from gardens in several places. Rots in wet, heavy soil and individual plants age within a few years. Foliage can brown in hard, windy winters. Aphids and mealybugs occasionally settle on it.

Key facts

Light: Full sun
Water need: Low
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 20 cm × 50 cm
Hardiness: down to -29 °C
Foliage: Evergreen
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D March–May, yellow, green

Group	Ground cover
Light	Full sun
Size after 10 years	20 cm × 50 cm
Ultimate size	10–30 cm × 15–60 cm
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous
Foliage	Evergreen
Flowering	March–May, yellow, green
Water need	Low
Drought tolerance	High
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no data
Spreading	High
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	40 cm
For dogs	Toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Toxic (uncertain)
For children	Toxic
Typical price	from about €5

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. €5

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Ground cover plants Drought-tolerant plants Drought-tolerant plants for sandy soil Evergreen plants Plants for containers Plants for a Mediterranean garden Rock garden plants

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