Euphorbia polychroma - Spurge

The Euphorbia polychroma, also known as Polychrome Spurge, forms a pretty, round, spreading and bushy shrub, offering a solar flowering in spring, chrome yellow, above a sometimes purple-marked, hairy, very soft, bluish-green foliage. This perennial of medium size is very hardy and easy to grow in a not too dry, porous soil. It is indispensable to brighten up a slightly shaded area, in a rock garden or a border. It will thrive in full sun or partial shade.

Polychrome Spurge is a deciduous perennial native to central and southern Europe. It belongs to the vast family of euphorbias. It presents itself as a spreading and bushy shrub, a little wider than high, occupying 40 cm (16in) by 50 cm (20in) on the ground. Its hairy stems bear ovate leaves measuring 5 cm (2in) long, of a striking bluish-green, sometimes tinged with purple and covered with small silky hairs. Flowering takes place in April-May, sometimes until June. The small flowers, surrounded by very bright yellow-green bracts make up an inflorescence of 4 to 8 cm (2 to 3in) in diameter appearing at the end of each hardy stem.

Polychrome Spurge is used in a border or in a mass planting, in sunny or partial shade conditions. Our advice is to associate it with brightly colored tulips, or on the contrary, white tulips, to give contrast to your flower beds. It can also be planted at the base of bushes and among perennials that flower at the same time, such as Columbine, Phlox divaricata, Bellflower, Geranium phaeum, Deadnettle, Bugleweed, Horned Violet, and many others. An association with purple foliage like that of Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple', or Prunus cistena, is interesting, as well as a marriage with the blue flowers of Ceanothus, Caryopteris clandonensis 'Grand Bleu' or Ceratostigma willmotianum. Note that this plant, although it prefers a bit of moisture at its roots, occasionally tolerates drought.

With about 8000 species, it is one of the richest genera on the planet. Few of them can acclimate in the garden, but rest assured, there is something to satisfy both the most demanding collector and the amateur who wants to garden without worries with perennial and hardy euphorbias for shade or sun, cool or hot, dry or wet. You just have to choose well.