Mother Nature's Backyard - A Water-wise Garden: Plant of the Month (June) : Cliff spurge

Cliff spurge (Euphorbia misera): Mother Nature's Garden of Health

There’s not much blooming that we haven’t already featured as a Plant of the Month. So we’ve chosen a plant that’s as well known for its form as for its flowers. Our Cliff spurge is looking nice in a large pot in Mother Nature’s Garden of Health. The scientific name is pronounced: you-FOR-bee-uh MIZ-er-uh.

Cliff spurge, also known as California spurge, is a part-woody sub-shrub native to Southern California and the states of Baja California and Sonora, Mexico. It is one of those interesting local natives that can be found along the coast as well as in the Sonoran Desert – both in Mexico and in the U.S.

Primarily a Mexican species, this plant’s northern limit is the Channel Islands of Los Angeles County (both Santa Catalina and San Clemente Islands). It still also grows in isolated pockets along the coastal bluffs of Orange and San Diego Counties. It inhabits rocky or sandy, south facing slopes in the coastal scrub, coastal bluff scrub and Sonoran desert scrub communities. Rare and threatened by development and frequent fires in California [1,2], its status is more secure, at least thus far, in Mexico.

Cliff spurge (Euphorbia misera): young plant

Cliff spurge belongs to the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae), a large and interesting group growing mostly in temperate and tropical zones. Some members – like the Cliff spurge – are succulent and many have milky sap that contains latex. A number also have medicinal properties (many are poisonous as well). In addition to the genus Euphorbia (many native and non-native species), this family includes California natives like California copperleaf (Acalypha) and Croton. Also members of the spurge family are the non-native poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima), cassava (Manihot esculenta) and castor oil plant (Ricinus communis).

Cliff spurge (Euphorbia misera): branches and bark

Cliff spurge has many characteristics of the Euphorbiaceae. It grows 2-5 ft. (1-1.5 m.) tall and about as wide. It has an open, irregularly branching form – somewhat mounded overall. Its branches are succulent, part-woody and covered with a pale gray-tan bark. The young branches are hairy, but they become smooth with age. The plant looks rather like an ancient miniature tree; and it has been put to such uses by bonsai artists.

Cliff spurge (Euphorbia misera): leaves

The leaves of Euphorbia misera have very short petioles (leaf stems) and appear almost haphazardly spaced along the branches. The leaves are simple, rounded and medium green. They have a distinctive fold along the midrib (like a taco shell) and often have very narrow stipules (small, leaf-like appendages from the petiole). The plant leafs out with the winter rains; the leaves are lost in the dry season. In the wilds (or in a dry garden) the plants can remain leafless for half of the year. Despite this, the plants are surprisingly attractive, due to their remarkable form.

Cliff spurge (Euphorbia misera): spring

Cliff spurge (Euphorbia misera): fall

Many Euphorbias have unusual flowers; Euphorbia misera is no exception. The flowers comprise a specialized structure, known as the cyathium. The simple male flowers are contained within the cup of the cyathium (see the pollen-laden anthers in the photo below). The female flower, with its swollen ovary, is on a stalk above the male flowers. The ovary becomes a wrinkled, lobed fruit which contains the wrinkled, gray seed.

Nectar glands in the cup of the cyathium (purple-red in Euphorbia misera) produce nectar, attracting bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. The major pollinators are likely insects. We’ll try to keep an eye on this plant when it’s flowering to see if we can add more details.

Cliff spurge (Euphorbia misera): flowers

Cliff spurge (Euphorbia misera): close-up view of flower

Cliff spurge can bloom any time of the year. It flowers after rain events in its native setting, and will bloom off and on from spring through summer in a garden. But the flowers are small; most gardeners who choose this species are either Euphorb enthusiasts, are interested in rare natives, or are captivated by its unusual form. We confess to being all of the above!

Euphorbia misera is slow-growing, making it a natural for a large container. It can take full sun near the coast; afternoon shade is best further inland. It likes a well-drained, sandy or rocky soil. If you have clay, try planting it atop a low berm to improve drainage. In containers, we just use an organic potting mix (unamended). Try to get one without much added manure – this plant doesn’t need lots of nutrients. In the ground it needs no fertilizer; in containers, try a ½ strength dose in late winter.

Cliff spurge is drought tolerant once established, but looks a bit better with occasional summer rain. This plant gets summer (monsoonal) rain in its native range. It can take monthly (or even a bit more) summer irrigation in well-drained soils. Our unglazed terra cotta pots dry out quickly, so we water our container-grown pot at least weekly in hot, windy weather.

Cliff spurge (Euphorbia misera): young plant

Euphorbia misera has a picturesque natural shape. Some gardeners just let it take its natural form. If you want to shape it, try selective pruning in late fall. You’ll want to wear gloves and be sure to not get the milky latex on your skin. Many people are allergic to it. Also, never eat any part of this plant – it’s toxic.

An infusion of the roots of Cliff spurge was traditionally used in the treatment of stomach aches, dysentery and venereal diseases. One would want to know more about the dosing and preparation of this plant before using it medicinally. Remember that this plant, along with many other Euphorbs, can be poisonous.

Cliff spurge looks nice when planted with its natural associates, including coast spicebush (Cneoridium dumosum), California boxthorn (Lycium californicum), California sagebrush (Artemisia californica), lemonade berry (Rhus integrifolia), bladderpod (Isomeris arborea) and ladies’ fingers dudleya (Dudleya edulis). We particularly love the look of it in a large container. Cliff spurge looks right at home in a Mediterranean or Central American-style garden. You could even combine it with Euphorbs from around the world, to create a garden celebrating this incredible Family!