Honey Spurge, scientifically known as Euphorbia mellifera, stands out in the garden with its distinctive appearance and captivating fragrance. This evergreen shrub offers year-round visual interest through its unique foliage and structural form. It is particularly noted for the sweet, honey-like scent emitted by its flowers, which gives it its common name. Gardeners value Honey Spurge for its visual and olfactory appeal in diverse landscape designs.
Identifying Honey Spurge
Identifying Honey Spurge begins with its characteristic evergreen foliage and overall growth habit. The plant typically forms a dense, multi-branched, dome-shaped shrub, reaching 1.5 to 2.5 meters in height and spread. Its leaves are bright to mid-green, narrow, and lance-shaped, often featuring a pale mid-vein and sometimes a reddish tint along the edge. These leaves are arranged in whorls around stiff, smooth green stems.
In late spring, Euphorbia mellifera produces unique flower structures known as cyathia. These small, brownish, honey-scented true flowers are surrounded by showy, often yellow to reddish-brown bracts. The Latin specific epithet “mellifera” translates to “producing honey,” a nod to the sweet fragrance. Following flowering, the plant develops warty, pea-like fruit.
Caring for Honey Spurge
Honey Spurge thrives in full sun, though it tolerates light shade, particularly in warmer climates. Optimal sunlight promotes stronger growth and more abundant flowering. This plant prefers well-draining soil and adapts to various soil types, including chalk, loam, or sand. Good drainage is essential to prevent root rot, as it does not tolerate waterlogged conditions.
Once established, Euphorbia mellifera is drought-tolerant, requiring minimal watering. During the growing season, water when the soil partially dries out, keeping it drier during winter dormancy. Honey Spurge is hardy in USDA Zones 9a-11, suited for regions with mild winters. Temperatures below -5°C can cause foliage damage, so protection from harsh frost is necessary in colder areas, potentially requiring container growing and overwintering indoors.
Pruning Honey Spurge is minimal, primarily for maintaining its shape, managing size, or removing dead or damaged stems. Prune in late winter or early spring before new growth, or after flowering in late summer or autumn. For propagation, basal cuttings can be taken in spring or early summer; allow the cut end to callous before planting in well-draining soil. Division in early spring is another method.
Potential Concerns
Honey Spurge, like other Euphorbia plants, contains a milky white sap that can be irritating. This sap can cause skin and eye irritation and is harmful if ingested. Wear gloves and eye protection when handling the plant, especially during pruning or taking cuttings. If sap contacts skin, wash thoroughly with soap and water; for eye exposure, rinse with water for 15-20 minutes.
This plant is generally resistant to most common pests and diseases, contributing to its low-maintenance nature. Occasional issues might arise from mealybugs or spider mites. Overly damp conditions can lead to root rot, so proper soil drainage and careful watering are important. Fungal growth can also occur in consistently wet conditions.
Using Honey Spurge in the Garden
Honey Spurge offers significant ornamental value, making it a striking addition to gardens. Its robust, architectural form and evergreen foliage provide year-round structure and visual interest. The plant’s domed shape and vibrant green leaves create a beautiful contrast with finer-leaved perennials or ornamental grasses.
This plant excels as a specimen, drawing attention with its unique appearance and honey-scented blooms. It is well-suited for Mediterranean-style gardens, rock gardens, or as a focal point in xeriscape landscapes due to its drought tolerance. Honey Spurge also works in borders and beds, providing a substantial backdrop for smaller plants, or can be grown in containers. It is also deer resistant.