Inflorescence
Common Name: spurge
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Zone: 10 to 12
Height: 0.25 to 0.50 feet
Spread: 0.25 to 0.50 feet
Bloom Time: Seasonal bloomer
Bloom Description: White
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Annual
Flower: Showy
Leaf: Colorful
Tolerate: Rabbit, Deer, Drought, Shallow-Rocky Soil, Air Pollution
Culture
Best grown in dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun. Appreciates some afternoon shade in hot summer climates. However, clumps tend to open up and lose their attractive shape in too much shade. Must have sharply-drained soils. Wet soils, particularly in winter, can be fatal. Plants are tolerant of some poor soils, including rocky-sandy ones. Plants generally prefer a Mediterranean-type climate and may show some stress in hot and humid summers.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Euphorbia is a genus of about 2,000 species of annuals, herbaceous perennials, trees, shrubs and succulents found in temperate, subtropical and tropical areas. All plant parts are toxic and can cause severe discomfort if eaten. The milky sap can cause skin irritation.
Genus name probably honors Euphorbus, physician to the King of Mauretania.
'Helena' is a vigorous hybrid spurge that is noted for its compact, bushy form, narrow, dark green foliage and showy floral display. This cultivar was the result of a deliberate cross between a selection of Euphorbia milii as the pollen parent and Euphorbia lophogona as the seed parent. Mature plants will reach roughly 6" tall with an equal spread and an upright, freely branching growth habit. The ridged stems have fewer thorns compared to the pollen parent and hold waxy, obovate leaves reaching 2.25" long and 1" wide. Compound cymes reaching 3" tall of inconspicuous true flowers subtended by two, showy, white bracts bloom seasonally. This plant is protected by patent number PP15446.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Use gloves when working with this plant. Some gardeners experience skin rashes from contact with the toxic plant sap of euphorbias. Deer tend to avoid this plant.
Uses
Beds, borders and rock gardens. Containers. Commonly sold as a filler or foliage plant.