Euphorbia marginata 'Kilimanjaro'

Euphorbia marginata 'Kilimanjaro' is a variegated annual spurge prized for the brightness of its strongly white-margined foliage. Highly ornamental in flower beds, the plant also provides beautiful leafy and flowered stems in light tones for floral arrangements. Perfect for dry areas and poor soils, it suits both contemporary and more rustic settings and will accompany your most beautiful roses. This very undemanding plant is sown and self-seeds in full sun, but it prefers some shade in the afternoon in our very hot regions.

Euphorbia marginata 'Kilimanjaro' belongs to the family of Euphorbias, like all Euphorbias. The wild species, Euphorbia marginata, is native to North America. More precisely from the prairies of Minnesota, Dakota, Colorado, Texas and Missouri. The 'Kilimanjaro' cultivar is slightly taller than the species and its flowering is earlier. It is a very fast-growing annual plant that develops a hairy and cylindrical stem that reaches up to 60cm (24in). The entire clump measures about 60cm (24in) in all directions. The leaves are simple, elongated, measuring up to 7cm (3in) long at the base of the stems. In spring, the leaves located towards the top of the stems gradually develop bright white margins, clearly visible from afar. They give the vegetation a beautiful "snowy" appearance. Flowering takes place from late July to early October. It takes the form of compound cymes of inconspicuous yellow-green true flowers that form at the tip of the stems. The flowers have no petals, but they emerge from white bracts resembling petals, arranged in clusters. These floral bracts and the upper variegated white leaves give the plant all its charm. The sap of Euphorbias is irritating to the skin and toxic if ingested. It is advisable to wear gloves when handling it.

The 'Kilimanjaro' Euphorbia is an excellent variegated annual plant for borders, pots, slopes, and bouquets. Invite it into flower beds, in the company of water-efficient plants such as heather asters, shrubby salvias, dusty millers, daylilies, and other evergreen Agapanthus, for example. It will work wonders in the somewhat barren areas of the garden, where it will require no special care. This plant reveals the beauty of repeat-flowering roses and shrubs with summer blooms, without overshadowing them. It is one of those plants that grow on their own, like love-in-a-mist, cosmos, perennial flax, California poppies, Phacelia with tansy-like leaves, sainfoin, cornflowers, and many others. Along with the latter, it is an ideal plant for filling a brand new garden or hiding the damage caused by a harsh winter.

Tips for bouquets: immerse the stems in hot water after cutting them to stop the latex from flowing.