Also known as Spurge · 546 gardener saves

Euphorbia: the varieties gardeners actually grow

Euphorbia, the genus most gardeners know as spurge. We track 38 varieties; these are the ones gardeners actually save and plant, ranked by real saves rather than catalog marketing. Each links to full care, bloom, and live price data.

38 varietiesZones 4–10Mostly full sun

The 12 most-saved Euphorbia varieties

Of 38 in the catalog — ordered by how many gardeners actually grow them.

#1 most saved

Flowering Spurge

Euphorbia corollata 'Carolina Snow'

Zones 4–9· 57 saves

#2 most saved

Cypress Spurge

Euphorbia cyparissias

Zones 4–8· 36 saves

#3 most saved

Ruby Spurge

Euphorbia cyparissias 'Fens Ruby'

Zones 4–8· 34 saves

Myrtle Spurge

Euphorbia myrsinites

Zones 5–8· 34 saves· from $11

Horned Spurge

Euphorbia cornigera

Zones 5–8· 31 saves

Ascot Rainbow Spurge

Euphorbia x hybrida 'Ascot Rainbow'

Zones 6–10· 31 saves· from $7

Marsh Spurge

Euphorbia palustris

Zones 4–8· 28 saves

Mediterranean Spurge

Euphorbia polychroma

Zones 4–7· 28 saves· from $14

Fireglow Spurge

Euphorbia griffithii 'Fireglow'

Zones 5–8· 27 saves

Seguier's Spurge

Euphorbia seguieriana

Zones 5–9· 26 saves

Cushion Spurge

Euphorbia epithymoides

Zones 4–8· 24 saves

Fern Cottage spurge

Euphorbia griffithii 'Fern Cottage'

Zones 5–8· 23 saves

Browse all 38 Euphorbia varieties →

How to grow Euphorbia

What the Euphorbia varieties in our catalog actually agree on — drawn from the care records of the 38 most-grown of them, not from a generic template.

The Euphorbia year

PruneJune95% of varieties
Cut spent flower stems back to the ground after blooming to prevent aggressive self-seeding.
Spring CleanupFebruary58% of varieties
Remove any winter-damaged foliage before new growth begins. Wear gloves.
PlantMarch, April, September and October45% of varieties
Plant in well-drained soil in spring or early fall.
PropagateApril and May34% of varieties
Divide clumps in early spring if needed; handle sap carefully.
DivideMarch and September32% of varieties
Divide large, congested clumps every 3-5 years using a sharp spade.

Do

Water sparingly during dormancy 🌱
Provide full sun for vigorous growth
Water sparingly, allowing soil to dry out between watering 🌱
Provide full sun for optimal growth
Prune dead or damaged stems in early spring

Avoid

Overwater, which can cause root rot ❌
Avoid overwatering, which can cause root rot ❌
Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot ❌
Avoid overwatering in winter ❌

What goes wrong with Euphorbia

Problem	What you'll see	What to do
Mealybugs	White cottony masses on stems	Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil
Aphids	Sticky residue and distorted growth	Use insecticidal soap or neem oil
Spider Mites	Fine webbing and speckled foliage	Use miticide or spray with neem oil
Spider mites	Fine webbing and speckled leaves	Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil
Root rot	Wilting and blackened roots	Improve drainage and reduce watering
Root Rot	Soft, blackened roots and wilting plant	Improve drainage and reduce watering
Powdery mildew	White powdery coating on stems	Apply fungicide and ensure good air circulation

Making more Euphorbia

Cuttings

Select healthy stem segments and allow them to callus for 2 days.
Plant cuttings in gritty soil and water lightly.
Keep in bright, indirect light for 4-6 weeks until roots develop.

Seed

Tuck seeds into well-draining soil in early spring.
Keep soil lightly moist for 2-3 weeks until germination.
Transplant seedlings when they reach 2 inches tall.

Euphorbia questions

How many types of Euphorbia are there?

The Sow catalog tracks 38 distinct Euphorbia varieties. The most popular — ranked by 546 real gardener saves — are shown first above.

What zones does Euphorbia grow in?

Across its varieties, Euphorbia covers USDA Zones 4–10. Individual varieties differ — each plant page lists its exact range, and Sow filters the catalog to your zone automatically.

When does Euphorbia bloom?

Most Euphorbia varieties bloom in summer, late spring, early summer. Staggering early, mid, and late varieties extends the genus's season in one bed.

Which Euphorbia should I choose?

Start from the most-saved varieties above — popularity across thousands of gardens is a strong signal of reliability — then filter by your zone and sun. In the Sow app you can preview any of them in a photo of your actual yard before you buy.

Keep exploring

Euphorbia shows up in

By hardiness zone

Related genera

Design with Euphorbia in your own yard

Snap a photo of your space and see these varieties planted in it — sized correctly, matched to your zone, with care reminders included.