Skip to product information
Euphorbia polychroma 'Bonfire'
1/2
Euphorbia polychroma 'Bonfire'

Euphorbia polychroma 'Bonfire'

$14.95

Euphorbia polychroma 'Bonfire' is a striking cultivar with multi toned foliage that begins deep burgundy and matures to red, orange, and green hues through the season. Its vivid chartreuse bracts in spring contrast sharply with its foliage and later fade to glowing amber. The plant maintains a neat mound and provides season spanning visual interest in xeric or compact plantings.

Height & Spread: 12 - 18 in x 18 - 24 in

Bloom Time: Spring to early summer

Light Requirements: Full sun to part shade

Soil Preference: Well drained, gritty to average soils

Watering Needs: Low; prefers dry conditions and good drainage

Deer Resistance: Toxic latex sap deters browsing by deer and rabbits

Native Status

This cultivar was selected from Euphorbia polychroma, a southeastern European species, and is cultivated widely for its dramatic foliage color shifts and tidy habit.

WILDLIFE & INSECTS

Bees

  • Nectar and pollen source for solitary bees, bumblebees, and small sweat bees early in the growing season.

Butterflies

  • Occasionally visited by early season butterflies including Spring Azures and Pearl Crescents.

Moths

  • Foliage provides low cover and early nectar for day flying moths such as Chickweed Geometer.

Beneficial Insects

  • Supports hoverflies and parasitic wasps helping maintain ecological balance in low input gardens.

Spacing & Landscape Use

Spacing Recommendations:

  • Space 18 - 24 in apart for maximum foliage contrast and to reduce crowding in sunny borders.

Landscape Placement:

  • Ideal for compact rock gardens, xeriscapes, and raised beds where striking foliage and low upkeep are key design elements.

Companion Plants

  • Allium schoenoprasum (Chives) - Adds upright purple blooms that rise above Euphorbia’s low mounds and echo the yellow bracts.
  • Coreopsis verticillata 'Zagreb' (Threadleaf Coreopsis) - Offers bright golden blooms and feathery foliage for fine textured contrast.
  • Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue' (Blue Fescue) - Echoes the compact mound and adds icy color contrast to Bonfire’s fiery tones.
  • Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' (Wood Sage) - Sends up deep violet spikes that rise cleanly above Euphorbia’s domed foliage.
  • Stachys byzantina (Lambs Ear) - Provides tactile silver foliage that softens plantings and contrasts with Euphorbia’s bracts.

You may also like