Bold foliage and subtle blooms for year-round interest
🌿 Plant Overview
- Botanical Name: Euphorbia ‘Miner’s Merlot’
- Common Name: Miner’s Merlot spurge
- Family: Euphorbiaceae
- Type: Evergreen perennial or subshrub
- Hardiness: RHS H4 (–10°C to –5°C)
- Height & Spread: 45–60cm tall × 45cm wide
- Foliage: Deep burgundy-purple with a silvery sheen
- Flowers: Lime-green bracts with maroon centers, in spring to early summer
- Scent: Not fragrant
🌱 Planting
- Best Time to Plant: Spring or early autumn
- Soil: Well-drained soil is essential
- Soil Type: Grows well in loam, chalk, or sandy soil
- Not Suitable For: Heavy clay unless amended with grit and compost for drainage
- pH: Tolerates neutral to alkaline soils
- Light Requirements: Full sun to light shade
- Spacing: Space 40–50cm apart
Tip: Avoid planting in areas prone to winter waterlogging – roots are prone to rot in soggy soils.
🌼 Seasonal Interest
- Flowering Time: April to June
- Foliage Interest: Year-round, particularly striking in winter and early spring
🌦️ Care & Maintenance
Watering
- Drought tolerant once established
- Water new plants during dry spells until roots are established
Feeding
- Not heavy feeders
- Light mulch in spring with compost or fine gravel to keep weeds down
Pruning & Tidying
- Cut spent flower stems back to the base after flowering
- Wear gloves when cutting: milky sap can irritate skin and eyes
Pests & Diseases
- Generally pest- and disease-free
- May get root rot in poorly drained soils
🌸 Design Tips
- Great for modern borders, gravel gardens, Mediterranean or dry gardens
- Combines beautifully with grasses, Alliums, Eryngiums, and Sedums
- Colour contrast works well against silver-leaved or lime-green foliage plants
🪴 Container Growing
- Grows well in containers with free-draining compost (e.g., John Innes No. 2 + grit)
- Choose a sunny, sheltered spot
- Ensure pots do not sit in water in winter
✂️ Propagation
- By Cuttings:
- Take softwood or semi-ripe cuttings in late spring or early summer
- Allow milky sap to dry before inserting into compost
- By Division:
- Divide established clumps in early spring if needed, but not often required
⚠️ Safety Note
- All parts are toxic if eaten
- Milky sap can irritate skin and eyes – always wear gloves when handling or pruning
🔁 Troubleshooting
| Problem | Likely Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Wilting or rot | Poor drainage, especially in winter | Improve soil or lift and replant in a drier spot |
| Lack of colour | Too much shade | Move to sunnier position |
| Leggy growth | Ageing stems or low light | Cut back to base in early spring |
🌿 Summary
Euphorbia ‘Miner’s Merlot’ is a tough, architectural plant perfect for modern and drought-tolerant gardens. Its year-round foliage interest and striking spring flowers make it a valuable plant for structure, colour, and texture in sun or light shade.
