Gopher plant is one of the first desert landscape plants to bloom in late winter, when it’s studded with vivid chartreuse flowers that almost glow. Here’s how to grow this eye-catching, succulent-like ground cover.
Gopher plant (Euphorbia rigida) is a stunning ground cover that’s native to dry parts of the Mediterranean. In late winter to spring, its whorls of green-gray leaves are topped with brilliant yellow-green flowers. Here in Tucson, the flowers are one of the first signs of spring.
When in bloom, these high-viz flowers are show-stoppers! There’s really nothing else like it in the southwest desert landscape.
And even when not in bloom, gopher plant makes an interesting, symmetric ground cover that looks great all year round. This low-maintenance plant makes a perfect addition to rock gardens or berms, or alongside boulders.
Gopher plant supposedly repels gophers and other rodents, hence its name. I don’t know how well that works, but our top desert pests — rabbits and javelinas — generally leave it alone.
Why I Like This Plant
- Adds architectural interest all year
- Eye-catching chartreuse flowers
- Low maintenance, low water, litter-free
- Reseeds, but not aggressively
- Flowers attract bees
Things to Watch Out For
Like all members of the Euphorbia genus, gopher plant exudes milky sap that is toxic to ingest and can be irritating to the skin.
Optimal Growing Conditions
If you’re thinking of adding a gopher plant to your garden, you need to find a suitable place that will keep your plant healthy and looking good.
Here are the key factors to keep in mind.
Temperature
Gopher plant should be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 11. These plants are cold-hardy down to 10℉ and are generally considered heat-loving.
But the past two summers have pushed them to the limit, and some gardeners report theirs have succumbed to extreme heat. So don’t plant this in the hottest spot in your yard. I grow one where its roots get some shade from a nearby hesperaloe, and that combo has worked beautifully.
Sun Exposure
Gopher plants like full or part sun but should not be planted where they receive reflected heat. They can get leggy when grown in too much shade.
Size and Growth Rate
Gopher plant is a moderate grower that ultimately reaches a size of 2 feet tall by 3 feet wide. Individual stems die back after flowering while new ones continually emerge, keeping the overall size in check.
Soil
Gopher plant is not particular about soil and grows in any type of desert soil, provided it’s well-draining.
Other Location Considerations
Since gopher plant is toxic and its sap can be irritating, keep it away from kids and pets.
Gopher plant looks great in containers. Make sure your pot has drainage holes and use specifically formulated cactus soil.
Gopher Plant:
The Essentials
| Common Name | Gopher plant |
| Scientific Name | Euphorbia rigida |
| Origin | Mediterranean |
| Plant Type | Succulent-like perennial |
| USDA Zones | Zones 8 – 11 |
| Cold Hardiness | To 10℉ |
| Flower Color | Yellow-green |
| Flower Season | Late winter, spring |
| Mature Size | 1-2′ high x 2-3’ wide |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Sun Tolerance | Full, part shade |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Pests & Diseases | Root rot |
| Toxicity | Toxic, skin irritant |
| Wildlife | Attracts bees Critter resistant |
How to Plant
To plant a gopher plant, dig a hole the same depth as the root system and twice as wide. Carefully remove the plant from the container, place it in the hole, and press the soil to remove any air pockets.
It’s generally recommended that you backfill with only native soil and not add any amendments. However, good drainage is critical. So if you know your soil is slow draining, amend with coarse sand or small gravel until you have a loose, well-drained mix.
When handling gopher plants, wear gloves. I put a pair of inexpensive disposable gloves over my regular gardening gloves and then toss the disposables when done. If you get sap on your gardening tools, clean them thoroughly before putting them away.
When to Plant
The best time to plant succulents is in April or May, when warm soil temperatures encourage root development.
How to Care for Gopher Plant
Whether you’ve recently planted a new gopher plant or have an existing one in your yard, here’s how to take care of it to keep it healthy and looking its best.
How to Water
You’re probably used to giving a plant a good soaking immediately after transplanting, but that isn’t the best practice with desert succulents like gopher plant.
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum advises not to water succulents for one to two weeks after planting. Then use the following schedule as a guide.
| Spring & Fall | Every 3-5 weeks |
| Summer | Every 2-4 weeks |
| Winter | Only if no winter rains |
Should You Fertilize?
There is no need to fertilize gopher plant, it gets all the nutrients it need from the surrounding desert soil. But if you keep one in a pot, fertilize it lightly a few times a year when it’s actively growing.
Pruning & Propagation
Gopher plant flowers appear at the end of stems in late winter to early spring. When the flowers start to die, they turn dusty pinky and look like small clusters of mini-hydrangeas.
Over the next few months, the stems that flowered will die back, and new stems will emerge. In the meantime, seeds get scattered.
If you don’t want your gopher plant to reseed, cut back the flowering stems before they go to seed. If you would like your gopher plant to reseed, let the stems die back on their own.
Gopher plant seedlings look like miniature versions of the adult plant. So be on the lookout for them so you don’t accidentally tread on them.
While you can supposedly propagate stem cuttings, I’ve tried many times and have never had any luck with this. If you have, please contact me and let me know your secret!
Plant Lover Facts
Gopher plant (Euphorbia rigida) has many common names that almost always include the word spurge — silver spurge, rigid spurge, myrtle spurge, upright myrtle spurge, narrow leaf spurge, and blue euphorbia.
It’s native to parts of the Mediterranean region — northwest Africa, southeastern Europe, and throughout the Middle East.
Gopher plant “flowers” are technically modified leaves known as bracts. Other familiar “flowers” that are bracts include bougainvillea and poinsettia.
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Author Bio
Deane Alban is the creator of Southwest Gardener. She is a science writer with a bachelor’s degree in botany from the University of South Florida. Gardening is her lifelong passion. She’s been gardening in Tucson for over 15 years.
