Euphorbia amygdaloides subsp. robbiae
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae
- Euphorbia robbiae
- Tithymalus robbiae
- Phonetic Spelling
- yoo-FOR-bee-ah am-ig-duh-LO-id-eez ro-bee-AY
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Mrs. Robb's Hatbox is a subspecies of Euphorbia amygdaloides and is also known as wood spurge. The subspecies robbiae differs from the species by having rosettes of broad, dark green leaves and a more rapid rhizomatous spread. The rapid spread makes this subspecies an excellent ground cover, but it can spread too much and outgrow its allotted space. The subspecies name, robbiae, is in honor of a botanist and plant collector, Mary Ann Robb. She discovered this plant near Istanbul, Turkey in 1891 and brought cuttings and seeds of this plant back to her home in Liphook, Hampshire. The common name references the fact that she used her hatbox to transport the seeds and cuttings home. The specific epithet, amygdaloides, originates from the Latin word, amygdalinus and means "almond-like."
Mrs. Robb's Hatbox grows best in dry to medium moist, loose, well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade. If the soil is wet, especially in winter, the plant can die. It prefers afternoon shade if your site includes hot summer days, but if there is too much shade, the attractively shaped clumps can open up. It also tolerates poor soils, including rocky-sandy soils. This plant can be propagated by division in the spring, and it will also self-seed in the garden unless spent flowers are deadheaded before the flowers set seeds.
This fast-growing, evergreen perennial shrub grows 1 to 2 feet tall and 2 to 2.5 feet wide. It forms a dense carpet of rosettes in colonies of shiny, deep green, spatulate to obovate leaves and showy, lime-green bracts with a small cluster of apetalous flowers. The plant is rhizomatous, producing new plants from underground runners, and is often used as a ground cover. When planting, space the plants 18 inches apart to prevent overcrowding.
Mrs. Robb's hatbox may be used as a ground cover in flower beds, borders, cottage gardens, or coastal gardens.
Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: A native of Mediterranean-type climates, the plant may show stress in hot and humid summers of North Carolina. It is a highly pest resistant species. Overwatering can cause root rot.
All parts of this plant are toxic if ingested. Keep the plant out of the reach of small children and pets. Use protective gloves and eyewear when handling this plant to avoid contact with the toxic sap.
VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti," a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Dry Rock Stream Garden Plant Walls and Hedges Paths & Walkways
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Redud'
up to 2 ft tall, red stems, green leaves, small chartreuse flowers
- 'Redud'
- 'Redud'
- Tags:





- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Redud'
up to 2 ft tall, red stems, green leaves, small chartreuse flowers
- 'Redud'
- 'Redud'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Euphorbia
- Species:
- amygdaloides subsp. robbiae
- Family:
- Euphorbiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Northwest Turkey
- Distribution:
- Introduced: Belgium, Great Britain, and Ireland
- Play Value:
- Easy to Grow
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- highly insect pest resistant
- Edibility:
- toxic if ingested
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Mounding
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a small, 3-lobed capsule that contains the seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- Bracts
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Stems are topped in spring by an 8 inch inflorescence containing yellow-green flowers borne in cyathia. The true flowers lack sepals and petals and are inconspicuous (single pistillate flower is ringed by several staminate flowers). However these flowers are subtended by long-lasting, yellow-green, leaf-like floral bracts which are showy.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Obovate
- Spatulate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Closely set, small, dark green leaves resembling pittosporum foliage. Three inch long leaves are purple tinted beneath. Lower leaves are alternate along the stems with the upper leaves in whorls. Leaves retain good green color throughout summer, but acquire attractive purple-burgundy tones with the onset of cooler fall weather.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Broken stems exude a white milky sap that can be poisonous if ingested.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Rock Wall
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Rock Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Insect Pests
- Pollution
- Poor Soil
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Dogs
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- The milky white latex sap found in all plant parts can cause mild to severe contact dermatitis. If contact with the eyes occurs the sap can cause temporary to permanent damage to the cornea. If eaten, blistering can occur on lips and oral mucosa. Avoid ingesting plant parts and keep plants away from pets and children.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Diterpene esters in milky latex
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Sap/Juice
- Seeds
- Stems