Euphorbia pithyusa subsp. cupanii Ponte Leccia - Spurge

The Euphorbia pithyusa 'Ponte Leccia' is a lovely variety of Balearic Spurge, a very ornamental evergreen Mediterranean species that is relatively hardy but not commonly used in our gardens. This plant forms a beautiful bushy clump with branched stems that bear clusters of fine succulent and pointed leaves in a surprisingly grey-blue, almost metallic colour. The summer flowering, very bright at the end of the branch, in the form of small bouquets of acid green flowers, takes on a beautiful rusty hue as they fade. Plant this euphorbia in full sun, in a well-drained bed, an exotic rockery, a dry garden, with other large cushions, small grasses or ground cover plants.

The Euphorbia pithyusa ssp. cupanii 'Ponte Leccia' belongs to the vast family of Euphorbiaceae. It is a horticultural form of Euphorbia pithyusa ssp. cupanii, a botanical species endemic to the Mediterranean coast. Widespread in the Balearic Islands, it is native to France, where it grows in sandy coastal soil in the southeast of the country. Hardy in zone 8, this euphorbia with poor soil can withstand short frosts of about -12 to -15°C (10.4 to 5°F), in well-drained soil. This undershrub develops into a bushy clump that slowly reaches 80 cm (32in) in all directions. Its vegetation is dense and branched, shaped like a large cushion. The young stems are green, then they turn cinnamon and orange-red while exfoliating at maturity. The evergreen leaves, succulent, are densely arranged around the stems. Small in size, they are linear, tapering to a point, grey-blue in colour, and will be even lighter when the soil is dry. The flowers are gathered in small umbels appearing in June-July at the ends of leaf-covered stems. They are petal-less flowers formed by lime green bracts that turn orange with time. The stems and leaves contain a milky sap that is sticky and toxic.

The 'Ponte Leccia' Spurge, with its beautiful appearance and surprising graphic design, will find its place in a dry and sunny rockery, on a wild slope in a large exotic bed, in a minimalist or contemporary style garden, but always in well-drained soil. For example, it can be associated with blue grasses (Elymus magellanicus,  Blue Fescue Elijah Blue), blue-flowered shrubby salvias ('Blue Note'), or light yellow blooms like some Baptisia. It also forms a lovely combination with the orange flowers of certain Agastache or the cloud-like blossoms of toadflaxes. On a dry slope or in a rockery, it can accompany lavender, thyme, rockroses, and other Mediterranean plants.