Euphorbia corollata - Flowering Spurge - 3" Pot

Flowering spurge boasts a dramatic floral display and an impressive bloom period as well as resistance to drought and mammalian herbivory. Flowering spurge can tolerate virtually any soil type, although it prefers dry soil and full sun, and is sensitive to competition which is typically more prevalent in soils with higher moisture contents. It is commonly found in dry prairies, savannas, and disturbed areas.

Flowering spurge forms a deep taproot that becomes woody with age, allowing it to tolerate periods of drought but making it difficult to transplant once established. It has narrow, elliptical leaves and slender stems that are unbranched except near the top where they branch dichotomously (in series of two) into show-stopping flower structures. For six weeks during the summer, flowering spurge produces airy to dense clusters of small white flowers that are often so prolific the entire plant will lean under their weight.

This species is often compared to the ornamental baby’s breath due to their similar appearances. Each flowering branch contains multiple male flowers and one female flower, the latter of which becomes a seed following pollination. The flowers are visited by bees, wasps, flies, and butterflies, and the seeds are enjoyed by a variety of birds such as the wild turkey, greater prairie chicken, bobwhite quail, mourning dove, and horned lark. However, the stems and foliage of the plant produce an irritating latex sap when broken and thus are typically avoided by mammalian herbivores such as deer and rabbits. The foliage of flowering spurge turns a bright red in the fall, providing lasting visual interest. Use this plant in a cottage garden or prairie planting.