Mrs Robb's Bonnet Spurge Plants

Euphorbia amygdaloides robbiae: Mrs Robb's Bonnet Spurge Plants

Euphorbia amygdaloides robbiae is extremely good ground cover for dry, shady spots, and only needs a little attention each year to stop it spreading too much. 

Its bee-friendly flowers make it ideal for a wildlife area.

Reliable and easy to grow, Euphorbia suits low-maintenance (but not zero!) planting schemes.

Browse our other perennial plants.

Features

• Colour: Yellow-green
• Flowering: April-June
• Foliage: Dark evergreen
• Height: 50cm
• Spreading: slightly invasive but controllable
• Excellent ground cover 
• Position: prefers semi-shade, tolerates full shade
• Soil: well drained, good for dry shade when established
• RHS Plants for Pollinators
• RHS Award of Garden Merit

Growing Euphorbia robbiae

These rugged, hardy plants tolerate shade, especially dappled shade under deciduous trees, and any well drained soil. 

They spread quite vigorously by rhizome root-shoots and every year you can quickly fork these up (and pull them off with plenty of root if you want to use them elsewhere) to prevent your Euphorbia from spreading where it's not wanted.
If it were seriously invasive, it would not have gained the RHS Award of Garden Merit, but it's definitely one to manage every single year. 

Due to its spreading habit, it's perfect for filling places where there is nowhere to spread!
In beds between buildings and concrete / tarmac paths, in a bricked patio corner to itself, or beside a gravel driveway where the regular movement should cut off the rhizomes for you.

It will smother most plants that are under about 50cm tall, so it's not a good companion for most bulbs: all to half their foliage will be under the Euphorbia. 

Note: the milky sap is an irritant that gives some people a rash, so wear gloves and then wash your hands before touching your face when handling them in the growing season.

Did You Know?

Introduced to the UK from Asia Minor by Mrs Mary Ann Robb (1829 - 1912), it does not seem to have been officially classified until 1953, by Dr William Turrill (1890 - 1961), who spent most of his career at Kew.

Plant in well-drained, or moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Water well until established.

Cut back faded flower stems in autumn. Wear gloves and take care as the sap is poisonous and a skin and eye irritant. This low maintenance plant is generally pest and disease-free. Divide clumps, and/or remove runners in early spring.