Ascot Rainbow Spurge (Euphorbia martinii 'Ascot Rainbow')
An Award-Winning Evergreen Perennial with Brilliant Variegated Foliage and Long-Lasting Spring Color
Plant Overview
Common Name: Ascot Rainbow Spurge
Botanical Name:Euphorbia martinii 'Ascot Rainbow'
Plant Type: Evergreen Perennial
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Hardiness Zones: USDA 5–9
Ascot Rainbow Spurge is one of the most colorful evergreen perennials available for sunny gardens. Valued as much for its striking foliage as its flowers, this award-winning cultivar features gray-green leaves edged in creamy yellow that become flushed with rosy pink and coral tones during cool weather.
In late spring through early summer, clusters of lime-green flowers surrounded by pink and cream bracts create an eye-catching display that lasts for weeks. Even after flowering, the colorful evergreen foliage continues to provide season-long interest.
Heat tolerant, drought tolerant, salt tolerant, and exceptionally easy to grow, Ascot Rainbow is an excellent choice for low-maintenance landscapes, rock gardens, coastal plantings, and modern garden designs.
Why We Grow It at 19 Birch Lane
At 19 Birch Lane, Ascot Rainbow Spurge is grown for its exceptional four-season foliage color and architectural form.
Unlike many flowering perennials that provide only a few weeks of interest, this Euphorbia remains attractive nearly year-round. Its colorful foliage brightens sunny borders while providing an outstanding contrast against blue, silver, purple, and deep green companion plants.
Its ability to tolerate heat, drought, deer, rabbits, and coastal conditions makes it an outstanding plant for both beginning and experienced gardeners.
Quick Facts
Botanical Name:Euphorbia martinii 'Ascot Rainbow'
Common Name: Ascot Rainbow Spurge
Plant Type: Evergreen Perennial
Height: 20 inches
Spread: 20 inches
Spacing: 20 inches
Growth Habit: Upright, Compact
Growth Rate: Moderate
Bloom Time: Late Spring through Early Summer
Flower Color: Green, Pink, White
Flower Display: Multicolored Bracts
Foliage: Evergreen, Variegated
Maintenance: Easy
Heat Tolerant
Drought Tolerant
Salt Tolerant
Deer Resistant
Rabbit Resistant
Growing Conditions
Light Requirements
Performs best in:
Full Sun
Part Sun
The brightest foliage color develops with at least six hours of direct sunlight each day.
Soil Requirements
Ascot Rainbow adapts to many soil types, including:
Average Garden Soil
Well-drained Soil
Sandy Soil
Rocky Soil
Soil pH:
Acidic
Neutral
Alkaline
Excellent drainage is essential, particularly during winter.
Water Requirements
Average water while establishing
Drought tolerant once established
Avoid consistently wet soil
Water deeply during extended dry periods
Flower Characteristics
Blooming in late spring through early summer, Ascot Rainbow produces unusual clusters of colorful bracts rather than traditional petals.
Flower Features
Lime-green flowers
Pink highlights
Cream accents
Long-lasting display
Excellent contrast against variegated foliage
Attractive to pollinators
Foliage Characteristics
The foliage is the true highlight of this exceptional perennial.
Foliage Features
Evergreen
Gray-green centers
Creamy yellow margins
Pink and coral highlights in cool weather
Dense upright habit
Four-season interest
Excellent texture for mixed plantings
Pollinator & Wildlife Benefits
Ascot Rainbow provides valuable nectar for many beneficial insects.
Attracts
Bees
Butterflies
Native pollinators
Resistant To
Deer
Rabbits
Garden Uses
Its colorful foliage makes Ascot Rainbow one of the most versatile foliage perennials available.
Recommended Uses
Border Plant
Rock Gardens
Cottage Gardens
Mediterranean Gardens
Xeriscapes
Coastal Landscapes
Containers
Specimen Plantings
Mixed Perennial Borders
Foundation Plantings
Pollinator Gardens
Companion Plants
At 19 Birch Lane, Ascot Rainbow pairs beautifully with:
These combinations create exceptional color and foliage contrast throughout the growing season.
Care & Maintenance
Ascot Rainbow is one of the easiest perennials to maintain.
Planting Tips
Choose a sunny location with excellent drainage.
Avoid heavy, waterlogged soils.
Water regularly during the first growing season.
Apply a light mulch, keeping it away from the crown.
Ongoing Maintenance
Remove spent flower stems after blooming.
Prune lightly in early spring before new growth begins.
Wear gloves when pruning, as Euphorbia sap can irritate skin.
Divide mature plants every few years if desired.
Landscape Design Ideas
Use Ascot Rainbow to brighten sunny planting beds with colorful foliage that lasts nearly year-round.
It works exceptionally well:
Along walkways
In front of evergreen shrubs
In modern landscapes
Among silver-leaved perennials
In rock gardens
In drought-tolerant borders
Around patios
In decorative containers
The variegated foliage also provides an excellent transition between flowering perennials and evergreen shrubs.
Why Gardeners Love Ascot Rainbow
✔ Brilliant variegated evergreen foliage
✔ Long-lasting spring blooms
✔ Heat tolerant
✔ Drought tolerant
✔ Salt tolerant
✔ Deer resistant
✔ Rabbit resistant
✔ Easy to grow
✔ Excellent container plant
✔ Outstanding four-season color
✔ Low maintenance
✔ Great for pollinator gardens
Plant Finder Details
Botanical Name:Euphorbia martinii 'Ascot Rainbow'
Common Name: Ascot Rainbow Spurge
Plant Type: Evergreen Perennial
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Height: 20 inches
Spread: 20 inches
Spacing: 20 inches
Bloom Time: Late Spring–Early Summer
Flower Color: Green, Pink, White
Foliage: Evergreen Variegated Green, Cream & Pink
Growth Habit: Upright
Sun Exposure: Full Sun to Part Sun
Water Needs: Average; drought tolerant when established
Soil: Well-drained; acidic, neutral, or alkaline
Maintenance: Easy
Heat Tolerant: Yes
Drought Tolerant: Yes
Salt Tolerant: Yes
Deer Resistant: Yes
Rabbit Resistant: Yes
Container Friendly: Yes
📍 Where to Find This Plant at 19 Birch Lane
Visitors will find Ascot Rainbow Spurge growing in the Sunny Border Garden, Rock Garden, and throughout the Waterwise Demonstration Garden, where its colorful foliage provides year-round interest and complements drought-tolerant companion plants.
🌸 Seasonal Interest Calendar
🌱 Spring
Fresh variegated foliage emerges with creamy yellow edges as colorful flower bracts begin to develop.
🌼 Late Spring–Early Summer
Lime-green flowers surrounded by pink and cream bracts create a brilliant floral display while attracting bees and butterflies.
☀️ Summer
Evergreen foliage remains vibrant and colorful, thriving in heat and dry conditions with minimal care.
🍂 Fall
Cool temperatures intensify the pink and coral tones along the leaf margins, adding another season of interest.
❄️ Winter
Evergreen foliage continues providing texture and color in the winter landscape throughout much of its hardiness range.
🎓 Garden Design Tips from 19 Birch Lane
At 19 Birch Lane, we use Ascot Rainbow Spurge as a "living highlight" throughout sunny gardens. Its colorful foliage acts almost like a flowering plant even when it's not in bloom.
For the greatest impact, plant it in groups of three or five where its cream-edged leaves can illuminate darker evergreens or contrast beautifully with blue hostas, purple salvias, silver Artemisia, ornamental grasses, or deep burgundy foliage plants. Because it tolerates heat, drought, and coastal exposure, it's an excellent choice for difficult sites where many perennials struggle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ascot Rainbow evergreen?
Yes. In most climates it remains evergreen and provides year-round foliage interest.
Does it attract pollinators?
Yes. The spring flowers are attractive to bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.
Is it drought tolerant?
Very. Once established, it performs well with minimal supplemental watering.
Is it deer resistant?
Yes. Deer and rabbits generally avoid Euphorbia.
Can it grow in containers?
Absolutely. It performs beautifully in decorative pots with well-drained soil.
Does it require much maintenance?
Very little. Remove spent flower stems and lightly prune in early spring to maintain a neat shape.
Ascot Rainbow Spurge (Euphorbia martinii 'Ascot Rainbow')
An Award-Winning Evergreen Perennial with Brilliant Variegated Foliage and Long-Lasting Spring Color