Gopher Plant

The Gopher Plant, scientifically known as Euphorbia rigida (sometimes also referred to as Broad-leaved Spurge or Gopher Spurge), is a striking and remarkably resilient evergreen perennial succulent, highly valued for its unique architectural form and vibrant chartreuse coloration. Native to the Mediterranean Basin, specifically southeastern Europe and western Asia (including countries like Greece and Turkey), it thrives in dry, rocky hillsides, open woodlands, and coastal areas. It is perfectly adapted to hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters, preferring full sun and exceptionally well-drained soil. In the landscape of Phoenix, Arizona, it is a highly successful and increasingly popular plant due to its extreme drought tolerance and visual appeal. As a long-lived perennial, the Gopher Plant can easily persist for 10-20 years or more, forming attractive, spreading clumps.

Its most distinctive characteristic is its spiraling arrangement of stiff, blue-green to grayish-green, succulent leaves that tightly clothe upright, unbranched stems. These stems typically emerge from a woody base, forming a dense, mounding clump that usually reaches 1-2 feet tall and spreads 2-3 feet wide. The leaves are narrow, pointed, and give the plant a somewhat spiky, yet soft appearance. The true spectacle of the Gopher Plant is its brilliant, lime-green to chartreuse-yellow bracts (modified leaves) that surround tiny, inconspicuous flowers (cyathia) in late winter and early spring. These vibrant bracts put on a dazzling display of color that lasts for many weeks, providing a welcome splash of bright hue when many other plants are still dormant or just beginning to show color. Like all euphorbias, it produces a milky white latex sap when cut, which can be irritating to the skin and eyes and is toxic if ingested, so caution should be exercised when handling. The Gopher Plant is renowned for its exceptional drought tolerance once established, its resilience to heat and cold, and its deer and gopher resistance (hence one of its common names). These qualities make it an excellent choice for xeriscapes, rock gardens, Mediterranean-style plantings, and as a bold, low-maintenance accent in sunny, well-drained landscapes, performing beautifully in Phoenix, Arizona, conditions.