Euphorbia palustris
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Tithymalus palustris
- Phonetic Spelling
- yoo-FOR-bee-uh pal-US-triss
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Bog Spurge is an upright herbaceous perennial in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) that has chartreuse leaves and flowers. It typically grows 2 to 3 feet tall,but sometimes you will find it taller. It is native to marshlands in Europe and Western Asia. The specific epithet, palustris, means marsh-loving.
Plant in full to partial shade in well-drained, moist to wet soils. It will adapt to various soil types. It tolerates browsing by deer and rabbits and tolerates drought, wet soils, and shallow-rocky soils. Plants may sometimes show some stress in hot and humid summers. Bog spurge can be propagated by seeds, stem cuttings, or division in the early spring.
The foliage is a medium green, but transitions to yellow or orange in the fall. The flowers are clusters of greenish-yellow blooms that appear in the late spring and early summer.
Mass plant it in a border or let it naturalize in a cottage, woodland, or rain garden.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Bog spurge has no serious insect or disease problems. Monitor for aphids, mealybugs, nematodes and spider mites.
As with all euphorbias, bog spurge exudes a milky sap from the stems and leaves that can be toxic. Monitor in the presence of children or pets. Some people experience skin rashes or eye irritation from contact with the toxic sticky plant sap of euphorbias. Wear protective gloves when handling this plant.
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 landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Walenburg's Glory'
dense, bushy habit, bright yellow blooms, foliage green in summer and becomes orange to red in the fall
- 'Walenburg's Glory'
- 'Walenburg's Glory'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Walenburg's Glory'
dense, bushy habit, bright yellow blooms, foliage green in summer and becomes orange to red in the fall
- 'Walenburg's Glory'
- 'Walenburg's Glory'
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Euphorbia
- Species:
- palustris
- Family:
- Euphorbiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe to Western Asia
- Distribution:
- Native: Albania, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Central European Russia, Czechoslovakia, Denmar, East European Russia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Northwest European Russia, Norway, Poland, Romania, South European Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Transcaucasus, Turkey, Ukraine, West Siberia, Xinjiang, and Yugoslavia. Introduced: Great Britain.
- Play Value:
- Easy to Grow
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Tolerant of wet soils and rocky soils and are not often visited by deer or rabbits.
- Edibility:
- Poisonous, if ingested.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Poisonous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- 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:
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- Bracts
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Chartreuse flowers that lack petals or sepals bloom late spring to early summer and are not particularly showy on their own. But, the flowers are shaped in large 6" wide clusters known as cyathium which are surrounded by large, long-lasting, greenish-yellow bracts which are exceptionally showy. The flower color comes from these bracts.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Medium green elliptical leaves 2"-3" long. Yellow/orange/red fall color.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Rain Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Poor Soil
- Rabbits
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Dogs
-
-
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
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Leaves
- Sap/Juice
- Stems
