Northwest Blooms · Groundcovers
Euphorbia myrsinites
Myrtle Spurge

- Family
- Euphorbiaceae
- Height
- 8 to 12 inches
- Width
- 18 to 24 inches
- Flower color
- Small, yellow-green flowers
- Foliage color
- Blue-green with a powdery or waxy coating
- Bloom time
- Spring
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Water
- Low; drought tolerant once established
- Maintenance
- Low
- Growing zone
- 5 to 9
- Wildlife
- The flowers attract pollinators
About this plant
Euphorbia myrsinites, commonly known as myrtle spurge or donkey tail spurge, is a low-growing succulent perennial native to southern Europe and western Asia, prized for its unique and attractive foliage. In spring, it produces clusters of small, yellow-green flowers surrounded by bright yellow bracts, adding to its ornamental appeal. The plant's sprawling, fleshy stems are blue-green and lined with spirally arranged, cylindrical leaves with a distinctive powdery coating.
Myrtle Spurge thrives in well-drained soil and full sun, making it well-suited for rock gardens, dry slopes, and Mediterranean-style landscapes. It is a tough, drought-tolerant, and low-maintenance plant, but care should be taken when handling it, as all parts contain a milky sap that can be irritating to the skin and toxic if ingested.
Works well in
Rock Gardens · Mediterranean Gardens · Borders · Waterwise Gardens
Companion plants
Lavender · Blue oat grass · Stonecrops · Red hot poker · Candytufts · Rockroses
Design tip
Position this architectural groundcover where its cascading stems can spill naturally over retaining walls, boulders, or raised beds. Pair broad sweeps with upright accent plants to create bold contrasts in form while reinforcing the clean geometry of dry gardens.
