Seaside spurge, Coastal beach sandmat
Euphorbia mesembryanthemifolia
Euphorbiaceae


Landscape Uses:

Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Not recommended for general landscape use.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

A common element of open, coastal uplands.
Availability:
Grown by enthusiasts.
Description:
Small perennial herbaceous wildflower.
Height:
Typically 1-3 feet in height. Taller than broad.
Growth Rate:
Fast.
Range:
Monroe County Keys north along the coasts to Flagler and Levy counties; the West Indies, Mexico, Central America and northern South America. On the east coast, very rare north of Brevard County.
Habitats:
Beach dunes, coastal strand and coastal grasslands.
Soils:
Moist, well-drained sandy soils, without humusy top layer.
Nutritional Requirements:
Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Moderately low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water, but tolerates short term inunation by salt water from storm surge with minimal damage.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Frontline; grows in direct salt wind but away from constant salt spray.
Drought Tolerance:
High; does not require any supplemental water once established.
Light Requirements:
Full sun.
Flower Color:
White glad appendages.
Flower Characteristics:
Inconspicuous.
Flowering Season:
Summer.
Fruit:
Inconspicuous capsule.
Wildlife and Ecology:
Horticultural Notes:
Can be grown from seeds and cuttings.
Comments:


Roger L. Hammer
Jay Horn
Jay Horn
Jay Horn