Euphorbia polychroma Bonfire - Spurge

Euphorbia polychroma 'Bonfire' is a selection of Euphorbia polychroma, a compact and particularly colourful bush, flamboyant from spring to autumn. The plant forms a beautifully rounded, spreading and bushy clump, adorned with purple-bronze to dark burgundy foliage, and comes alive in spring with a contrasting yellow-orange flowering. This perennial of modest size is very hardy and easy to grow in full sun or partial shade, in well-draining soil that is not too dry. It is perfect for enhancing rockeries or border beds.

Euphorbia polychroma (synonym. Euphorbia epithymoides) is a deciduous perennial with a good lifespan, native to central and southern Europe. It belongs to the vast family of euphorbiaceae. 'Bonfire' appears as a large cushion of 30 cm (12in), slightly wider than it is tall, occupying 40 cm (16in) of space on the ground and slowly spreading. New buds grouped around the collar appear in spring, nestled at the base of the stump. These hairy stems elongate rapidly and bear deciduous leaves covered in small silky hairs, which turn beautiful shades of red before disappearing. Unlike the wild species, 'Bonfire' produces leaves that maintain a beautiful reddish-brown colour mixed with orange and purple later in the season, barely greening in summer and becoming bright red in autumn. The flowering occurs in April-May, sometimes until June.  The small flowers are surrounded by bracts of a beautiful bright yellow that slightly tinges with orange at the edges. They form inflorescences with a diameter of 4 to 8 cm (2 to 3in), appearing at the end of each stem. This plant self-seeds quite easily in light soil.

Euphorbia polychroma 'Bonfire' can be used in a border or in flower beds, in sunny or partially shaded areas. Our advice is to pair it with brightly coloured tulips, or alternatively with white tulips, to create contrast in your flower beds. It can also be planted at the base of evergreen bushes (conifers, boxwoods, myrtles) and amidst perennials that bloom at the same time, such as columbines, Phlox divaricata, bellflowers, perennial geraniums, lady's mantles, dwarf asters, and many others. An association with blue grasses like fescues or 'oat grass' (Elymus, Helictrotrichon) is interesting, as well as a combination with the blue flowers of ceanothuses, Caryopteris clandonensis 'Grand Bleu' or Ceratostigma plumbaginoides. Note that this plant, while it prefers to have a bit of moisture at its base, tolerates drought quite well once established. It can also be grown in pots.

With approximately 8000 species, euphorbias are one of the richest genera on the planet. Few of them can acclimatize in the garden, but rest assured, there is enough to satisfy both the most demanding collector and the amateur who wants to garden effortlessly with perennial and hardy euphorbias for shade or sun, cool or warm climates, dry or humid conditions. You just have to choose carefully.