Silver Spurge (Euphorbia rigida): A Blue-Green, Ground-Hugging Euphorbia with Chartreuse Blooms

Silver Spurge, also called Gopher Plant, forms a spreading mound of upright, fleshy stems clad in pointed, blue-green leaves that spiral tightly around the stem. In late winter to spring, the stem tips erupt in large, showy clusters of chartreuse-yellow bracts (cyathia) that glow in the garden. As the flowering stems age, they bend down and root, expanding the clump. Native to the Mediterranean and Middle East, it’s a superb evergreen groundcover for dry, sunny slopes.

Taxonomic Profile

Garden Value

Full sun to light shade. Poor, well-drained soil; thrives in alkaline conditions. Drought-tolerant. Hardy to 0°F (-18°C). Deer and gopher resistant. Self-seeds moderately. Cut back flowering stems after bloom to encourage new growth. Sap is irritating.