Northwest Blooms · Perennials
Euphorbia characias 'Dwarf'
Dwarf Spurge
- Family
- Euphorbiaceae
- Height
- 12–18 in
- Width
- 18–24 in
- Flower color
- Bright chartreuse yellow bracts held in dense terminal clusters
- Foliage color
- Blue-green evergreen leaves forming compact rounded mounding clumps
- Bloom time
- Late winter through spring
- Light
- Full sun to light partial shade
- Water
- Low to moderate
- Maintenance
- Low; remove spent flowering stems after bloom and handle with care due to milky sap
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 7–10
- Wildlife
- Bees and other early season pollinators
About this plant
Euphorbia characias 'Dwarf' develops compact, upright stems lined with slender blue-green leaves that remain present through the seasons, giving the plant a steady architectural presence. In early to mid-spring, rounded heads of luminous chartreuse bracts gather above the foliage and hold their color for many weeks, creating a gentle wash of brightness in borders, gravel plantings, and sheltered containers.
Rooted in Mediterranean ancestry and shaped through garden selection for reduced stature and reliable bloom, it reflects the enduring character of coastal southern European landscapes. Persistent evergreen growth and long-lasting floral display provide structure and continuity across changing seasonal conditions.
Works well in
Borders · Cottage Gardens · Pollinator Gardens · Waterwise Gardens · Containers
Companion plants
Sedums · Columbines · Lungworts · Daylilies · Japanese anemones · Bleeding hearts
Design tip
Winter interest is the reason to grow it, so keep it near an entry where the bloom is noticed. It takes sun or light shade, which makes it useful along the changing light of a bed edge or a partly shaded border.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
