Euphorbia myrsinites

The Corsican Spurge, in Latin Euphorbia myrsinites, is a small hardy perennial, evergreen in winter, with prostrate stems of a bluish colour, whose tentacle-like appearance is not devoid of a certain charm. Its small fleshy leaves gently coloured in greyish-blue are nicely arranged in a tight spiral along the stems that all originate from a central point. This gives the plant an original and highly decorative architecture. Its bright yellow inflorescences appear throughout spring. Indispensable in very dry and sunny areas, this small Euphorbia works wonders in rockeries, as a border plant, or in a gravel garden. It readily self-seeds where it likes.

The Corsican Spurge belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family. In nature, it is found around the Mediterranean and extends to Asia. It is a plant that thrives in sunny locations and well-drained, poor, and dry soils. It is undemanding and tolerates limestone well, but it dislikes heavy clay soils that retain water in winter and can cause its base to rot. Under good conditions, it can withstand temperatures as low as -15°C (5°F). The stems and leaves contain an irritant latex for the skin and eyes. The plant is toxic if ingested.

Euphorbia myrsinites has a thick base and develops several stems that crawl more or less on the ground. When mature, it reaches about 20cm (8in) in height and has a spread of 50cm (20in). Its multiple stems emerge from a central point. Each stem is fleshy, thick, and adorned with numerous small, stiff leaves densely and geometrically arranged. The leaves are covered with a pruine, giving them a beautiful grey-blue colour. This attractive foliage remains decorative in winter. The flowering occurs from March-April to June-July, depending on the climate, and is earlier in mild regions. At the tip of each stem, a globular inflorescence forms, composed of tiny flowers surrounded by decorative bracts and nectar glands. This blooming is a very bright acidic yellow, visible from afar. Over the weeks, the floral bracts take on pink tones, resembling flowers and creating a refined association with the foliage colour. Once pollinated by insects, the Corsican Spurge produces small fruits that expel numerous small seeds when mature. These seeds require the winter cold to germinate. The plant forms new stems after this flowering.

The Corsican Spurge, with its exemplary frugality, is used in rockeries, to cover slopes, as a border plant in raised beds, in natural gardens, but also in containers with other plants suitable for dry soil. It only requires sun and a well-drained soil. This small plant pairs well with low-growing grasses like Stipa tenuifolia or blue fescue. It can also be mixed with other dry rock species such as rock soapwort, carnations, dwarf Artemisia, Mexican fleabane, or Carpathian bellflower...