Mediterranean spurge

Questions about mediterranean spurge

Does mediterranean spurge need sun or shade?

Mediterranean spurge grows in full sun (6 or more hours of direct sun a day).

It wants dry, sharply drained soil, on the lean side, with no feeding, and little watering once settled. Once settled in, it stands drought.

What zones does mediterranean spurge grow in?

USDA zones 7 to 10. It is hardy to zone 7, which means it survives winter nights down to about 10 °F (−12 °C).

Gardening in Canada? Use the USDA zone for your town: Canada's own zone map uses different numbers.

When does mediterranean spurge flower in my zone?

In zone 5 it flowers late March to late May. As a spring flower it moves about a week for every zone: earlier where it is warmer, later where it is colder.

Worked out from Hopkins' bioclimatic law: spring arrives about four days later for each degree of latitude north, and one zone is roughly two degrees. A warm spring or a cold one moves any garden two weeks either way.

How far apart should mediterranean spurge be planted?

3½ ft (100 cm) apart, from the middle of one plant to the middle of the next. That is a little closer than its full width of 4 ft (120 cm), so a group knits into one patch.

It grows 4 ft (120 cm) tall. Give it the full distance from anything taller, or it will lean out towards the light.

How many mediterranean spurge plants do I need?

At 3½ ft apart, set out in staggered rows:

• 1 to fill 10 square feet (about 1 m²)
• 4 for a single row 10 ft (3 m) long
• 3 to fill a 4 × 8 ft bed on its own

In a mixed border, plant it as one, with clear ground around it: a feature plant is seen as an object, and a group of them is a thicket.

In the bed above, the planner used one in one group.

Is mediterranean spurge poisonous to dogs and cats?

Yes: mild toxicity to people, dogs and cats. The sap can irritate skin and eyes. Can cause vomiting and diarrhoea if eaten.

Rated from NC State Extension. Where references disagree, the more cautious rating is used.

Is there a pet-safe plant like mediterranean spurge?

These come closest to doing what mediterranean spurge does, and no toxicity is recorded for them:

• Russian sage: the same job in a bed; 4 in narrower, flowers mid July to mid September.
• Willowleaf sunflower 'First Light': the same job in a bed; 10 in narrower, flowers mid September to mid October.
• Spiny bear's breeches: the same job in a bed; 10 in narrower, flowers mid June to late July.

Matched the way the planner's Swap button matches plants: the same job in a bed, then size, then flowering time.

Do deer eat mediterranean spurge?

Mostly not. NC State lists it as resistant to deer and rabbits. No plant is proof against a hungry deer in a hard winter, but this one is low on the menu.

Will mediterranean spurge spread?

It seeds itself about; the risk of it taking over is moderate. Self-seeds around the parent in mild climates. Pull unwanted seedlings while small.

What flowers after mediterranean spurge?

Mediterranean spurge is over by late May. These start as it finishes and carry the same spot on, so it never goes flat:

• English lavender 'Hidcote': from late June to late July, 18 in tall, to stand in front of it and cover its fading stems (a recorded partner).
• Peony: from late May to late June, 3 ft tall, to stand in front of it and cover its fading stems.
• Purple coneflower: from late June to early September, 3 ft tall, to stand in front of it and cover its fading stems.

What does mediterranean spurge look like in winter?

Mediterranean spurge keeps its blue-green leaves all winter, so it is one of the plants that hold a bed together from November to March, when the perennials have gone.

Is mediterranean spurge good for bees and butterflies?

Mediterranean spurge is visited by pollinators, butterflies and hummingbirds.