Euphorbia ‘Ascot Rainbow’ – Striking Foliage with Year-Round Appeal

The Euphorbia ‘Ascot Rainbow’ is a truly eye-catching perennial, admired for its colourful evergreen foliage and long-lasting flower bracts. Its narrow, lance-shaped leaves are beautifully variegated with tones of grey-green, creamy yellow, and soft pink, providing year-round colour and interest. In spring and early summer, clusters of lime-green bracts tinged with red appear, adding further brightness and contrast.

Compact and architectural, ‘Ascot Rainbow’ is perfect for borders, gravel gardens, or patio containers where its striking foliage can be enjoyed up close. Drought-tolerant, low-maintenance, and hardy, this euphorbia is both practical and decorative – a reliable plant for gardeners seeking long-lasting structure and colour.

General Information

Euphorbias are a diverse group of perennials and shrubs, often prized for their colourful bracts and unusual foliage. The cultivar ‘Ascot Rainbow’ was bred in Australia and has quickly become a favourite worldwide for its vibrant variegation and resilience.

• Habit: Compact, bushy, evergreen perennial.

• Height & spread: Grows 50–70cm tall and 50–60cm wide.

• Foliage: Narrow, variegated leaves with grey-green centres, yellow margins, and pinkish tints, particularly in cooler months.

• Flowers: Clusters of lime-green bracts flushed with red and cream, appearing in spring and lasting into summer.

• Flowering season: April to June, with bracts remaining colourful for months.

• Position: Thrives in full sun to partial shade; variegation is brightest in full sun.

• Soil: Well-drained soil is essential; grows well in sandy, chalky, or loamy soils.

• Hardiness: Fully hardy across the UK and Ireland.

• Uses: Perfect for mixed borders, gravel gardens, Mediterranean-style planting, or containers.

The year-round foliage interest combined with its spring display makes this one of the most versatile euphorbias for modern gardens.

Care Guide

Euphorbia ‘Ascot Rainbow’ is low-maintenance and drought-tolerant once established, making it an excellent choice for gardeners of all skill levels.

Planting

• When to plant: Best in spring or autumn when soil is moist and workable.

• Depth & spacing: Plant at the same depth as in the pot; space 50–60cm apart.

• Preparation: Ensure excellent drainage – add grit or sand if planting in heavy soil.

• Containers: Ideal for pots – use a free-draining compost mix.

Watering & Feeding

• Water regularly during the first season to establish roots.

• Once mature, it rarely needs extra watering and thrives in dry soils.

• Feed in spring with a balanced slow-release fertiliser to encourage lush foliage and flowers.

Pruning & Maintenance

• Cut back spent flower stems to the base after flowering.

• Wear gloves when pruning – euphorbias release a milky sap that can irritate skin.

• Trim back untidy foliage in early spring to maintain shape.

• Mulch annually with compost or gravel to suppress weeds and improve soil.

Protection

• Fully hardy, requiring no winter protection.

• Evergreen foliage may scorch in severe wind or frost but recovers well.

• Pest- and disease-resistant, making it very reliable.

Why Choose Euphorbia ‘Ascot Rainbow’?

This vibrant perennial offers gardeners colour, structure, and low-maintenance care all year round.

• Year-round colour: Evergreen foliage with variegation and seasonal pink tints.

• Spring display: Striking lime-green flower bracts flushed with red and cream.

• Low-maintenance: Hardy, drought-tolerant, and pest-resistant.

• Compact habit: Perfect for borders, containers, or gravel gardens.

• Architectural form: Adds structure and elegance to planting schemes.

The Euphorbia ‘Ascot Rainbow’ is a bold and versatile perennial, bringing brightness and texture to the garden throughout the seasons. Whether used as a focal point in a border, combined with ornamental grasses in a gravel garden, or grown in a container for the patio, it delivers long-lasting colour and charm with minimal care.

We currently only deliver within the island of Ireland, other countries can be quoted for by contacting [email protected] or via telephone on 06964084
 

Standard Delivery is FREE on orders over €250*

All standard deliveries will be completed within 5-7 working days via Fastway Couriers, any delay to this delivery time, the customer will be notified by One of our staff.

The in-Store delivery charge will vary compared with online, in-store delivery charge is done on a case by case basis. 

* Only mainland Ireland addresses qualify for free delivery.
 

Live Plants Delivery

Our live plants are packed with care and diligence by our staff, our horticulturists review each plant before despatch to ensure quality is maintained.
Live Plant delivery charges are not calculated on weight but on the space required per package to ensure safe delivery, so delivery charges may vary as some plants require more space than others when packed.
All live plants are despatched within 3-5 working days where possible, our couriers aim to deliver within 48 hours of despatch from our Garden Centre to allow the plant to arrive in healthy condition.
 

Click & Collect

Can’t wait for delivery? Why not try our FREE Click & Collect service? Simply make your purchase online and collect it from our store located in Croagh Co. Limerick. Our staff will contact you by phone when your order is ready for collection (Please allow 24 hours minimum). When collecting your item, call the store on 069-64084. We will then load into your car as required. This service is available in-store 9am – 6pm Monday – Saturday (No collections on Sundays)

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