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Key characteristics

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

Perennials

Euphorbia characias 'Dwarf'

Dwarf Spurge

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.

Light

Full sun to light partial shade

Water

Low to moderate

Bloom time

Late winter through spring

Find this plant

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.