trefle.io · Taken Jun 24, 2019 by julia juli (cc-by-sa)
Euphorbiaceae
Caper spurge
Euphorbia lathyris
Also known as Galarhoeus decussatus, Tithymalus lathyris, Euphorbia spongiosa, Keraselma lathyris
Native Plants · Caper Spurge · Euphorbia · Toxic · Architectural · Drought-Tolerant · Deterrent · Biennial · Glaucous · Spurge · Garden Curiosity
Caper spurge is a striking architectural biennial or short-lived perennial that thrives in well-drained soils with partial sun and minimal watering. It is often grown as a curiosity or for its bold, glaucous foliage, and is reputed by gardeners to deter moles and gophers. Handle with care, as all parts of the plant contain a toxic milky latex that is a serious skin and eye irritant.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 5 hours
- Watering
- Water sparingly; allow soil to dry completely between waterings · Every 14 days
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 5.5–7
- Temperature
- -25°F to 85°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed
Hardiness
USDA 4b-9b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 3 ft
- Spread
- 2 ft
- Spacing
- 18 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Albania, Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Arizona, Azores, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil South, British Columbia, Bulgaria, California, Chile Central, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Connecticut, Czechoslovakia, East Himalaya, Ethiopia, France
Sources: trefle, usda
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