At Ivy & Whyte Garden Design, we’re always on the lookout for resilient, characterful plants that thrive in the unique conditions of the coast. One of our firm favourites that we use on almost all of our coastal designs, is Euphorbia myrsinites, also known as myrtle spurge. With us based in Brighton and Hythe, Kent, we’ve found this plant to be a true coastal star – turning heads and holding its place alongside other bold, sun-loving favourites.

What’s so attractive?

There’s something unmistakably otherworldly about Euphorbia myrsinites. With its spiralling, geometric stems and blue-grey, fleshy leaves arranged in perfect whorls, it looks more like a miniature alien landscape than a typical garden plant. Each rosette-like shoot appears almost sculpted, giving it a striking, structural quality that stands out in any setting. These are evergreen plants that provide year-round interest: silverly blue throughout most of the year, with this bright citrus flower seen between March and June, but most prominent in April and May. Euphorbia myrsinites a standout in spring is its early flowering season, injecting zingy colour when much of the garden is still waking up. We love using it to punctuate gravel gardens, trail over raised beds, and along sunny banks. This low growing plant is perfect at the front of a bed, either spilling over the edge or creeping into a pathway.

What to plant alongside Euphorbia myrsinites?

1. To complement the blue and silvery leafy tones, Eryngium x zabelii ‘Big Blue’ is a great striking blue addition (another coastal winner!)
2. Other pops of lime green work well alongside this, like Sedum reflexum
3. To bring out the more silverly notes, it can be paid with other architectural coastal plants such as Astelia ‘Silver Shadow’
4. If you want bold and bright, add more striking yellow’s to the bed – a hardy and pollinator favourite is Achillea ‘Moonshine’

Benefits

1. Pollinator friendly
2. Hardy: handles salty air, dry soils, and full sun with ease
3. Structural: subtle architectural edge that suits both contemporary and naturalistic schemes

Designing with Coastal Elements

1. Rocks: Euphorbia myrsinites works well creeping over and through large boulders and small pebbles
2. Corten steel: The bright orange and blue foliage can be a striking pair
3. Weathered timber: Pairing it with weathered wood highlights its soft, silvery tones

Whether you’re looking to add definition to a coastal path or bring structure to a spring display, this hardy euphorbia brings coastal charm with effortless style.