Euphorbia cyparissias (Cypress Spurge)
Cypress Spurge, Bonaparte's Crown, Faitour's Grass, Graveyard Ground Pine, Graveyard Weed, Irish Moss, kiss-Me-Dick, Love in a Huddle, Tree Spurge, Welcome-to-our-house
A source of fascination in the garden for its interesting flower heads, Cypress Spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias) is a very showy perennial which enjoys months of fragrant chartreuse flowers. A forest of tiny flowers held in umbel-like clusters appear in spring or early summer, consisting primarily of glowing lime-yellow bracts that slowly fade to red-orange as they mature. The foliage resembles that of a miniature cypress tree, hence its common name.
- Typically growing up to 12 in. (30 cm), Cypress Spurge is an erect, branching, rhizomatous plant which can rapidly spread to form a bushy ground cover. So, give it its own space as it is an aggressive grower!
- Remaining attractive during all its growing season, this remarkable plant is resilient to most pests and diseases, is drought, deer & rabbit tolerant and is easy to care for.
- A full sun lover (tolerates very light shade), it thrives in dry, well-drained soils. Poor soils, including rock or sandy ones are welcomed!
- Perfect as ground cover for dry, sunny slopes, beds and borders, city gardens, coastal gardens or cottage gardens.
- Can be invasive, particularly in rich, moist soils! So, be prepared to carry out judicious pruning and digging or thinning out as required!
- Find where this species is invasive in the United States.
- Discover beautiful U.S. native plant alternatives.
- Wear gloves when cutting as both stems and leaves contain a poisonous milky sap.
- Native to Europe.
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Requirements
Hardiness | 4
– 8 |
---|---|
Heat Zones | 1
– 9 |
Climate Zones | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
Plant Type | Perennials |
Plant Family | Euphorbia - Spurges |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Mid,Late) Summer (Early,Mid,Late) Fall |
Height | 10" – 1' (25cm – 30cm) |
Spread | 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm) |
Spacing | 12" – 18" (30cm – 45cm) |
Water Needs | Low |
Maintenance | Average |
Soil Type | Chalk, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Fragrant, Showy |
Tolerance | Deer, Drought, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil |
Garden Uses | Banks and Slopes, Beds and Borders, Ground Covers |
Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage |
Picture courtesy of Roberto Verzo, Alois Staudacher, Flickr
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Requirements
Hardiness | 4
– 8 |
---|---|
Heat Zones | 1
– 9 |
Climate Zones | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
Plant Type | Perennials |
Plant Family | Euphorbia - Spurges |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Mid,Late) Summer (Early,Mid,Late) Fall |
Height | 10" – 1' (25cm – 30cm) |
Spread | 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm) |
Spacing | 12" – 18" (30cm – 45cm) |
Water Needs | Low |
Maintenance | Average |
Soil Type | Chalk, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Fragrant, Showy |
Tolerance | Deer, Drought, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil |
Garden Uses | Banks and Slopes, Beds and Borders, Ground Covers |
Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage |