Euphorbia characias 'Silver Swan' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
Variegated Mediterranean Spurge

Euphorbia characias 'Silver Swan'

£7.99
Hardy in the UKSun-lovingEvergreenLoved by pollinators
Pot size
10cm / 0.5L £7.99

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Description

Euphorbia characias 'Silver Swan' is a beautifully variegated form of the Mediterranean spurge, grown for its cool, architectural presence and its long season of interest. Each upright stem is clothed in narrow, blue-green leaves crisply edged in silvery white, building into a rounded evergreen mound. In spring the stems are topped with large, dome-shaped heads of creamy white bracts, sometimes flushed with a soft reddish eye, for a display that lasts for weeks.

This is a hardy, easy-going evergreen, rated around RHS H4 and reliable to about -10C in a well-drained spot. It holds its variegated foliage right through winter, so it keeps structure in the border when little else does. It is also notably drought-tolerant and thrives on poor, sharp-draining soils, which makes it ideal for low-water and coastal planting. See our hardy exotics guide for a season-by-season picture.

Water through the first summer while it establishes, then leave it to fend for itself. Its silvery structure makes it a natural for architectural foliage schemes and gravel gardens, and it stands up well to salt and wind in coastal planting. Use it to lift an exotic border, grow it in a container from our plants for pots selection, or combine it with other drought-tolerant plants. For a dramatic dark-leaved partner, pair it with Euphorbia 'Miner's Merlot'.

Part of our Hardy Exotics range, every plant is nursery-grown and hand-picked for strong roots and crisp variegation before careful packing.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

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What to Expect

Seasonal by nature: what to expect

  • Grown outdoors, the way nature intended. Weather-tested and hardened in real UK conditions, so they thrive in your garden. A few marks on the older leaves are normal, the sign of a tough, real plant rather than a flaw.
  • It follows the seasons. Depending on when you order, your plant may arrive cut back, dormant or leafless. That's healthy: dormancy is the ideal time to plant.
  • Posted, not posed. Big leafy plants like bananas and gingers may be trimmed or gently folded to travel safely. It does the plant no harm, and it powers away again in spring.

Not sure what to expect from yours? Dormant, cut-back or weather-marked plants are all perfectly healthy and normal. Read what to expect through the seasons

Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

Changed your mind? See our Return Policy.

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How to care for Variegated Mediterranean Spurge

Plant me in full sun and I will stand a UK winter outdoors.

In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.
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About Variegated Mediterranean Spurge

Euphorbia characias 'Silver Swan' needs full sun or partial shade and well-drained soil. It is hardy to around −10°C, standing an average UK winter outdoors.

Good for

Architectural Coastal & Exposed Dry & Gravel Gardens Exotic Borders Pots & Containers

Hardiness

TenderVery hardy

RHS H4 · Hardy Exotic · down to around −10°C

hardy across most of the UK, disliking only cold, wet winter soil.

Position

Full sunPartial shadeEast-facingSouth-facingWest-facingExposedSheltered

full sun for the brightest silver variegation, or partial shade for softer colouring.

Soil

ChalkLoamSandWell-drainedAcid pHAlkaline pHNeutral pH

light, fertile and very free-draining; happy on chalk, loam or sand.

Watering

Water through the first summer while the roots establish, after which it is drought-tolerant and needs little attention. Cut spent flower stems right back to the base after flowering to keep the plant fresh and compact. Always wear gloves, as the milky sap irritates skin and eyes. Read moreShow less

Water through the first summer while the roots establish, after which it is drought-tolerant and needs little attention. Cut spent flower stems right back to the base after flowering to keep the plant fresh and compact. Always wear gloves, as the milky sap irritates skin and eyes.

Mature size

Height70-90 cm
Spread60-90 cm

Reaches full size in 2-5 years

Growth habit

Bushy

Flowering

Mar-May · Cream, White, Green

Seasonal colour

Foliage

Evergreen

Pruning

Cut spent flower stems right back to the base after flowering. Wear gloves, as the sap is a skin and eye irritant.

Toxicity

The milky white sap is a skin and eye irritant and is harmful if eaten. Wear gloves when handling, cutting back or dividing, and keep the sap away from eyes. Best kept away from young children and pets.

Native range

Garden origin (species from the Mediterranean)

Family

Euphorbiaceae

Also known as

Euphorbia characias 'Silver Swan'

Genus

Euphorbia →
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Euphorbia 'Silver Swan' evergreen?

Yes, it is a compact evergreen perennial that keeps its silver-white variegated foliage all year, holding structure in the border right through winter.

How do you care for Euphorbia characias 'Silver Swan'?

Grow it in full sun to partial shade in light, very well-drained soil. Water through the first summer to establish, then it is largely drought-tolerant. Cut spent flower stems back to the base after flowering, and always wear gloves, as the sap irritates skin and eyes. Our hardy exotics guide covers what to expect season by season.

Should Euphorbia 'Silver Swan' be cut back in winter?

No, leave it alone over winter, as the evergreen foliage is part of its appeal. Instead, cut the faded flower stems right down to the base once they finish in early summer, which keeps the plant compact and encourages fresh growth.

How hardy is Euphorbia characias 'Silver Swan'?

It is hardy across most of the UK, rated around RHS H4 and reliable to about -10C. The key to overwintering it well is sharp drainage, as it dislikes cold, wet soil far more than cold itself. It is a strong choice for coastal planting.

Does Euphorbia 'Silver Swan' do well in pots?

Yes, it is ideal for containers and gravel gardens, where you can give it the free-draining conditions it loves. Browse our plants for pots for more container-friendly options.

How big does Euphorbia characias 'Silver Swan' get?

It forms a rounded, bushy evergreen mound to around 70 to 90 cm tall and wide, giving it real architectural presence in a border or a large container.

Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 48 hours with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
Meet the family

Everything about Euphorbia

Euphorbia are architectural, low-maintenance plants that need bright light and infrequent watering. This guide covers care for all major types, with an important note on their toxic sap.

More about Euphorbia care
Euphorbia Care Guide
Why Grow Tropicals

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Packaged with Care

Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

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Perfect for Gifting

From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

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All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

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Euphorbia characias 'Silver Swan'
£7.99