Robb's Spurge (Euphorbia amygdaloides var robbiae)
yew-FOR-bee-ah ah-mig-dah-LOY-deez var ROB-ee-

Evergreen Perennial (usually grown as an annual near you) Upright, Spreading in the Euphorbiaceae Family
An evergreen, rhizomatous groundcover euphorbia for dry shade, with glossy dark green foliage and long-lasting chartreuse spring flowers.

Robb's Spurge (also called Mrs. Robb's Bonnet) is a tough, rhizomatous evergreen groundcover named for 19th-century plantswoman Mary Anne Robb, who is credited with bringing it back from Turkey to England in a hatbox. Dark green, glossy rosettes of leaves persist year-round, taking on purple-burgundy tones in cold weather, and are topped in spring by long-lasting sprays of yellow-green flowers surrounded by showy lime-green bracts. It spreads steadily by underground rhizomes to form a dense weed-smothering mat, making it one of the best Euphorbias for difficult dry shade under trees and shrubs. Like other spurges, its milky sap can irritate skin and eyes.

Pros

  • Evergreen groundcover that thrives in dry shade where little else will grow
  • Long-lasting chartreuse spring flowers over glossy dark green foliage
  • Deer and rabbit resistant, low maintenance once established

Cons

  • Spreads aggressively by rhizomes and can escape its intended area
  • Milky sap can irritate skin and eyes
This plant may be mostly winter-hardy outdoors where you live, but it may need protection to survive extreme weather.
Highlights A rhizomatous, evergreen groundcover euphorbia prized for thriving in dry shade; glossy dark green foliage turns purple-burgundy in cold weather; long-lasting yellow-green flowers with lime-green bracts in spring; spreads to form a dense, weed-smothering mat.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 12 - 24 inches tall. 24 - 36 inches wide.
Growth Rate Rapid
Sun Exposure Full Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium
Zones 6a - 9b (Usually hardy to -10° F)
Tags Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Dry, Evergreen, For a Shady Spot, Full Shade, Full Sun, Groundcover, Low Maintenance, Medium, Naturalizing, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Potentially Toxic, Rabbit Resistant, Shade Tolerant
Bloom Period Spring
Flower Color Yellow-Green
Foliage Color Dark Green
 

In The News

Commonly Planted with...

Pairs well with spring bulbs, hellebores, hostas, and ferns in shaded beds, where its evergreen foliage and chartreuse spring flowers provide structure and color when little else is blooming.
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Pricing and Availability History

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!