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Euphorbia schillingii
Schilling's spurge
Eastern Nepal (moist meadows, forest margins at 6,000-10,000 feet); introduced to Western cultivation by Tony Schilling of the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
Overview
Euphorbia schillingii is an upright clumping herbaceous perennial in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae spp.) reaching 30–40 inches (75–100 cm) tall with a spread of 24–30 inches (60–75 cm). This Nepalese species, introduced to Western cultivation by the plantsman Tony Schilling from eastern Nepal, stands among the tallest deciduous euphorbias in common cultivation. Stems are stout, upright, and self-supporting without external staking. Leaves are oblong 3–5 inches (8–13 cm) long, dark green with a prominent white midrib along each leaf, which echoes the leaf structure of E. cornigera but scales up to a larger plant. Flower heads are broad flat-topped terminal clusters 4–6 inches (10–15 cm) across of bright chartreuse-yellow cyathia that open from July through October for a 12–14-week sustained bloom period, which runs the most extended euphorbia flowering window in cultivation. Fresh flower heads are produced continuously as new side shoots develop through the summer. Fall foliage turns yellow before dying back to the ground for winter dormancy. Deciduous. The plant spreads slowly by rhizomes at 2–4 inches per year. All parts of the plant exude a milky white latex that is a skin and eye irritant. Hardy to zone 6.
Native Range
Euphorbia schillingii is native to eastern Nepal, where it occurs in moist meadows and forest margins at 6,000–10,000 feet (1,800–3,000 m). The species was introduced to Western cultivation by Tony Schilling, who served at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, and the specific epithet commemorates him.Suggested Uses
Grown in woodland gardens, partially shaded borders, and moist garden sites at 24–30 inch (60–75 cm) spacing. The July-through-October bloom fills the late-summer-to-fall gap when most other euphorbias have finished flowering and the garden transitions toward autumn-bloomers, which makes this species a bridge plant between the spring-euphorbia group and the fall-bloom perennials. The plant functions in naturalistic plantings and mixed borders where the tall self-supporting stems carry seasonal weight without staking requirements. Pairing with Anemone spp. × hybrida spp., Aster spp. cultivars, and late-season ornamental grasses builds a fall-display composition on matching light and soil preferences. The white-midrib foliage carries ornamental value from spring through fall as a secondary feature. Dry positions and deep-shade sites are not suitable given the Himalayan montane-habitat moisture and light preferences.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2'6" - 3'4"
Width/Spread2' - 2'6"
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Bloom Information
Broad flat-topped terminal clusters 4–6 inches (10–15 cm) across of bright chartreuse-yellow cyathia open from July through October, which runs a sustained 12–14-week flowering window that extends well beyond most cultivated euphorbias in timing and duration. Fresh flower heads are produced continuously as new side shoots develop through the summer, which keeps the plant in active bloom without deadheading intervention.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Bright chartreuse-yellow cyathia in broad flat-topped terminal clusters 4-6 inches acrossFoliage Description
Dark green with prominent white midrib; yellow fall color; oblong 3-5 inches longGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 3-8 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
Grows in partial shade to full sun in moist well-drained fertile soil at pH 5.5–7.0, tolerating loam and clay. Hardy to zone 6. Moisture tolerance matches E. cornigera — the species wants consistent moisture through the growing season and does not accept the dry exposures that the Mediterranean E. characias group needs. Rhizome spread is slow at 2–4 inches per year and rarely requires containment in border settings. The tall stems are self-supporting in lean to moderate soils; rich overfertilized conditions can produce weaker stems that may need grow-through support. Winter mulch in zone 6 positions helps protect the rhizomes during cold-snap temperatures. The milky white latex that exudes from cut stems and broken tissue is a skin and eye irritant; contact during pruning is the primary exposure route, and washing exposed skin with soap promptly reduces irritation risk. No serious pest or disease problems.Pruning
All stems are cut back to the ground in late fall or early spring after the deciduous foliage dies back for winter. No other pruning is required through the growing season, since the continuous bloom production means deadheading is not necessary to extend flowering. The milky latex sap is a skin and eye irritant during cutting work, so protective gloves reduce exposure risk during the dormant-season cleanup.Pruning Schedule
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M
J
J
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D
early spring