Euphorbia oblongata
eggleaf spurge
Overview
Euphorbia oblongata is a short-lived, clump-forming perennial of the spurge family, growing 18-36 inches (45-90 cm) tall and about 24 inches (60 cm) wide. Erect, branching stems carry oblong to elliptical leaves 1-3 inches (2.5-7.5 cm) long with finely toothed margins. From spring into summer the stem tips bear broad, rounded heads of small flowers surrounded by showy yellow-green bracts, the coloured bracts rather than true petals supplying the display typical of euphorbias. The flower heads hold their lime-green colour for many weeks and are widely used as cut material. Like all spurges, broken stems and leaves exude a milky white latex that irritates skin and eyes and is poisonous if eaten. It grows in open woodland, scrub, and grassy slopes in its native range and tolerates a wide range of garden soils. The plant self-seeds freely and has naturalised as an invasive weed in parts of California and elsewhere. It is short-lived but usually renews itself from seed.
Native Range
Native to the Balkans, Turkey, and the Caucasus, where it grows in open woodland, scrub, and grassy slopes. It has naturalised in parts of North America, including California, where it is regarded as an invasive weed.Suggested Uses
Grown in sunny borders, gravel gardens, and cutting beds, where the lime-green heads contrast with stronger flower colours, usually spaced 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) apart. The long-lasting stems are popular as cut flowers. Its self-seeding and invasive status in some regions limit its use to contained settings.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1'6" - 3'
Width/Spread1'6" - 2'
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
The yellow-green flower heads open from April or May and hold their colour into mid-summer. The true flowers are tiny and clustered within coloured bracts, drawing flies, bees, and other small insects to exposed nectar glands. Seed capsules follow and split explosively to scatter the seed.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Eggleaf spurge grows in full sun to partial shade on most free-draining soils and tolerates poor, dry ground once established. It is drought-tolerant and needs little watering or feeding in open conditions. Plants are raised from seed, which germinates readily, or from basal cuttings, with the cut ends rinsed to stop the latex bleeding. The milky sap irritates skin and eyes, so contact with the cut stems is avoided during handling and cutting. Spent flower heads are removed before seed ripens to limit prolific self-sowing. It is short-lived, often persisting only a few years but renewing from seed.Pruning
Cutting the flowered stems back to the base after bloom removes fading heads and limits self-seeding. The cut stems bleed irritant latex, so they are handled with the skin protected. Old or untidy growth is cleared in late autumn or early spring.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons