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Horned spurge

Euphorbia brachycera

Also called Shorthorn Spurge

Horned spurge
Photo: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0

Horned spurge (Euphorbia brachycera) is a low, rhizomatous perennial that spreads into mats, native to dry slopes and woodlands in the western US and northern Mexico. It thrives in lean, well-drained soil and full sun, and is best kept dry in winter.

Family
Euphorbiaceae (Spurge family)
Grows as
Perennial
Light
Full sun
Water
Water deeply but infrequently, letting soil dry out fully between waterings.
Soil
Sandy or gravelly, very well-drained soil; poor soil is fine.
Temperature
Hardy in cool to warm temperate conditions; tolerates frost. Protect from prolonged wet cold.
How easy
Easy
Safety
Toxic: All parts exude milky latex, as is typical of Euphorbia, which can irritate skin and eyes and is harmful if swallowed.
Native range
WC. & C. U.S.A. to N. Mexico
Climate
temperate

About

Euphorbia brachycera is a species of flowering plant in the Euphorbiaceae family. It is referred to by the common name horned spurge and is native to Northern Mexico and the Rocky Mountains of the US. It is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial growing in spreading mats, with narrow green leaves and yellow flowerheads. It can grow up to 2 feet (61 centimetres) tall. Some of its habitats include canyons, sandy or gravelly slopes, pine-oak woodlands, and mixed coniferous forest.

Other Euphorbia plants

Marble Canyon spurge · Abd Al Kuri Euphorbia · Euphorbia abdita · Euphorbia abdulghafooriana · Abram's Spurge · Desert Candle · Euphorbia acalyphoides · Greek Spiny Spurge · Euphorbia actinoclada · Pointed Sandmat · Euphorbia adenopoda · Miniature Saguaro

Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Euphorbia brachycera by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.

The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.

Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.

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