Myrtle Spurge |
| Myrtle Spurge – is a soft rubbery succulent-like ground cover that does well in full sun and reasonably well in dappled shade. It is drought tolerant. The plant develops a spreading woody base that then sends out green succulent branches. You can expect some minor yellow flowering in spring which will seed the plant. Myrtle Surge grows four to eight inches tall and like all succulents must have well drained soil. |
| Euphorbia Myresinites. |
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| Myrtle Spurge with Desert Willow Native Texas Plant |
Agave with myrtle spurge, native Texas landscaping. |
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Myrtle Spurge (Euphorbia myrsinites) is a low-growing, spreading succulent known for its fleshy, blue-green leaves and striking chartreuse-yellow flowers that appear in early spring. Originally from Europe and Asia, it was introduced to North America as an ornamental groundcover because of its drought tolerance and ability to thrive in poor soils. In Texas and many western U.S. states, Myrtle Spurge is considered problematic because it can become invasive, especially in dry, rocky environments where native plants struggle. It spreads quickly by seed and creeping stems, forming dense mats that crowd out native vegetation. Beyond its invasive tendencies, Myrtle Spurge contains a milky sap that can cause skin irritation, rashes, or eye injury if touched. Because of these risks, it’s often discouraged for home landscapes, particularly where children, pets, or livestock are present. In some states like Colorado, Myrtle Spurge is classified as a noxious weed, and control or eradication is legally required in certain areas. Despite its bold appearance and low water needs, Myrtle Spurge is not recommended for Texas gardening. Safer, non-invasive alternatives for similar visual appeal include Blue Fescue, Sedums, or Texas native succulents like Red Yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora). |
| Agaves are beautiful with spurges. The gray blue colors blend nicely. |
 Agave. There are over 150 kinds. |
| The name of the head of the nursery at my church as a child was Myrtle. She was a wonderful lady who rocked the babies, sometimes three at a time in a gigantic rocking chair.
I think about her sometimes in her white starched uniform, her thin arms. And that’s what I remember about her, thin arms, always reaching, always holding her ‘precious little angels.’ Our church had a lovely sanctuary, but the truest sanctuary of that church was Myrtle’s nursery, in Myrtle’s arms. I know she is in heaven, still rocking babies. |
Chitalpa / Catalpa / Desert Willow |
| The beautiful Desert Willow seen above pictured with the Myrtle Spurge is reported to be poisonous. Possibly a better tree would be the cross between the Desert Willow and the Catawlpa tree, the Chitalpa that comes in pink and white. |
 Chitalpa Tree Gates and Doors
 Chitalpa Tree |
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Catalpa Tree in Dallas Landscape Garden Design. The Catalpa is one half of the Chitalpa tree with the Desert Willow being the other half. |
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Catalpa Tree Blooms in April in Texas |
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Peeking out to the left of the lovely Catalpa tree is a beautiful pomegranate bush.
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Pomegranate Tree / Bush Dallas Landscape Design Pomegranates (Punica granatum) grow very well in Texas, especially in Central, South, and parts of West Texas, where the hot, dry summers and mild winters mimic their native climate of the Middle East and South Asia. They are drought-tolerant, heat-loving, and generally disease-resistant when planted in well-drained soil and full sun. Historically, the most common older pomegranate varieties grown in Texas were ‘Wonderful’ and ‘Grenada’. ‘Wonderful’ has been the standard commercial pomegranate in the U.S. for decades — it produces large, dark red fruit with juicy, tart-sweet arils (the edible seeds). However, ‘Wonderful’ doesn’t perform as consistently in some parts of Texas because it requires a little more winter chilling than areas like South Texas can reliably provide. In recent years, newer pomegranate varieties better suited to Texas conditions have been introduced and tested. These include ‘Salavatski’, ‘Al-Sirin-Nar’, ‘Kazake’, and ‘Parfianka’ — varieties that tend to be more cold-hardy, drought-tolerant, and have rich, sweet flavor profiles. ‘Parfianka’, in particular, has become a favorite among home gardeners and orchardists in Texas because of its excellent fruit quality and reliable production. Some of these newer varieties have been recognized in trials at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and other research programs for superior performance in Texas’s climate. For example, Texas A&M researchers recommend varieties like ‘Salavatski’, ‘Krasnyj Velesa’, and ‘Kazake’ for both home and commercial growers because of their cold tolerance and heavy fruit set. Although pomegranates don’t typically receive official awards like the Texas Superstar® program honors given to other plants, many of the newer cultivars have effectively been “field-tested” through university trials and are recommended as superior selections for Texas gardeners. Quick Summary:
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