Family Euphorbiaceae.
Originating from Europe.
- Purple-tinted, fine, feathery foliage forms a dense, spreading ground cover.
- Lime-yellow, then pink and red flower heads appear in spring above the leaves.
- Easy to grow and hardy, excellent for dry and coastal sites.
The Drought-Tolerant Cypress Spurge in Your Garden
Tactile leaves shift colour through the seasons, topped by abundant blooms that transition from lime green to red. Adding fascinating detail to the lowest planting levels, its ever-changing hues make your garden pop from the ground up. Its continual spring-summer display doesn’t escape any passing pollinator either; they adore its nectar-laden blooms.
Euphorbia cyparissias ‘Fen Ruby’ is hardy in all UK gardens. It grows to around 30–40cm tall and spreads to 1.5m wide in 2-5 years. Adaptable to any garden style, it is particularly at home in the seaside conditions of coastal Norfolk and Suffolk.
It thrives in dry, sandy, poor soils, baked in sunny Mediterranean conditions. Providing a frothy, soft carpet of stunning contrast for bold, spiky foliage. The new foliage emerges with red hues borne on burgundy-purple stems. The leaves become grey-green in summer as the spectacular, bright lime-green flowers smother the plant.
Did you know?
People gave Euphorbia its common name ‘Spurge’ because of its traditional use as a purgative in folk medicine. However, you should never try this at home — all parts of the plant are toxic.
Growing Tips for Your Euphorbia cyparissias ‘Fen Ruby’, an exceptional Drought-Tolerant Ground Cover
- Soil and sun: Well-drained, poor to moderately fertile soil, in full sun.
- Planting: at any time of year. Never plant a dry plant! Plunge or stand in water to thoroughly drench the rootball before planting. Do not add soil improvers.
- Watering: easy; tolerates drought once established. Water young plants during their first summer season
Gardeners have cultivated Euphorbia cyparissias for centuries, prized for its excellent ground-covering habit. ‘Fen Ruby’ is a more richly coloured selection found in the fens region of the UK. With both flowers and foliage that change colour throughout summer and autumn, it is uniquely ornamental. As a drought-tolerant ground cover, it is hard to beat for waterwise and wildlife gardeners.
