Mediterranean Spurge

How to grow Mediterranean Spurge

Written by Steve Davis · Last reviewed 21 July 2026 · Written for UK gardens · How we research our guidance

Planting

Plant in spring in full sun with sharp drainage and shelter from cold drying winds. It is an evergreen sub-shrub and gives structure through winter, so give it a position where that counts. It resents heavy wet soil and root disturbance.

Pruning

The flowered stems are biennial: each shoot grows one year and flowers the next, then dies. Cut those spent stems right down to the base once the flowerheads fade in early summer, leaving the current year's new shoots untouched for next spring.

Propagation

Take basal cuttings in spring, dipping the cut end in water to stop the sap flow before potting. It also self-seeds moderately and seedlings transplant well when small.

Pests and diseases

Generally trouble-free. Aphids sometimes gather on new shoots, and plants in wet ground rot at the base.

Value to wildlife

The early flowerheads open in March and are a useful nectar source for bees and hoverflies well before most border plants start.

Notes

The milky sap is a well-known irritant. Wear gloves and long sleeves when pruning, keep it away from your eyes, and check the plant's safety information before siting it where children or pets have access.

This guidance was researched and written by GardenDecoded — see our editorial policy for how guides are checked and reviewed.

Other names for this plant

These names have all been used for Euphorbia characias but are no longer the accepted name. You may still meet them on old labels, in books, or in nursery catalogues.

Others in Euphorbia