Baby Charm Spurge

Baby Charm Spurge (Euphorbia 'Baby Charm') is a compact evergreen that holds a neat dome about 60cm high and 60cm wide, topped in spring with lime green and yellow flower heads. It is a plant that rewards neglect: poor soil, heat, salt air and long dry spells all suit it. One caution: the milky sap is a strong irritant and toxic if chewed, so it is not for a garden where pets graze.

Why you'll love it

• Flower heads that behave like foliage. The lime green and yellow bracts hold for weeks in spring and sit well against grey and burgundy planting.
• Neat without clipping. It builds its own low dome, so a row stays even with no shearing.
• Thrives where soil is poor. Frost hardy, drought tolerant, heat tolerant and content in thin gravelly ground that defeats most border plants.
• Bees and butterflies use it. The flower heads open early in the season, when nectar is scarce in most gardens.

Where it works best

Borders and edging. Plant 50cm apart for a low continuous edge along a path. The domes meet without losing their shape.

Rockeries and dry banks. Sharp drainage is what it wants, so it belongs among gravel, stone and succulents rather than a rich watered bed.

Pots and coastal gardens. A 30cm pot suits one plant, and the salt tolerance makes it a reliable choice for a seaside courtyard.

Growing Baby Charm Spurge in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, always. It suits cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens and takes frost without trouble. In humid subtropical and tropical gardens it tends to be short lived, because wet summer air brings rot, so northern gardeners should keep it in a pot under eaves.

Soil. Free draining above all. Sandy, gravelly and poor soils give the best plants, while rich or wet clay causes collapse. On heavy ground, plant on a raised mound and mulch with gravel rather than bark.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer, then only in a long dry spell. Skip the fertiliser; feeding produces soft growth that splays open in the first storm.

Pruning. Cut each spent flower stem back to the base once it browns off, rather than shearing the plant. Wear gloves and eye protection, because the sap irritates skin and eyes.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in one size, tube stock, so plants arrive young and single crowned. For a small plant that is no disadvantage: they establish quickly, reach their full 60cm within one to two seasons, and make a long border or full rockery affordable to plant.

Plants travel upright and may look tight or pale on arrival, which corrects within a few weeks in sun. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse plants suited to rockeries
• Compare drought tolerant plants
• Choosing edging plants for a path or border

Common questions

Is it safe around pets and children?

No. Every part carries a milky sap that is toxic if chewed and irritating to skin and eyes. Plant it away from play areas and pet runs, and wear gloves when pruning.

How far apart should I plant it?

Space plants 50cm apart for edging or mass planting. That gives each dome room to reach its full width and keeps air moving between plants.

Will it grow in a humid subtropical garden?

Not reliably in the ground. Wet summer humidity causes rot in this group, so north of the temperate zones use a pot of sharp mix, in sun and sheltered from storms.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes, and a pot is the safest way to give it the drainage it wants. Use a 30cm pot of free draining or cactus mix, water sparingly, and keep it in full sun.