Euphorbia x martini 'Little John' (Martin's spurge 'Little John')

Botanical name

Euphorbia x martini 'Little John'

Other names

Martin's spurge 'Little John', Euphorbia x martinii 'Little John'

Genus

Euphorbia Euphorbia

Variety or Cultivar

'Little John' _ 'Little John' is a dwarf, evergreen sub-shrub with narrow leaves that emerge red-tinted, maturing to blue-green. It bears open sprays of greenish-yellow flowers in spring and summer.

Foliage

Evergreen

Habit

Clump-forming, Rounded, Upright

Toxicity

All parts of the plant are highly toxic if ingested. The milky sap may cause irritation to skin and eyes.

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Colour

Flower

Yellow-green in Spring; Yellow-green in Summer

Foliage

Grey-green in All seasons

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How to care

Watch out for

Pests

Generally pest-free.

Diseases

Generally disease-free.

General care

Pruning

Cut back flowering shoots to ground-level in late summer or autumn.

Propagation methods

Basal cuttings

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Monthly care advice

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Where to grow

Euphorbia x martini 'Little John' (Martin's spurge 'Little John') will reach a height of 0.5m and a spread of 0.5m after 2-5 years.

Suggested uses

City, Beds and borders, Ground Cover, Low Maintenance

Cultivation

Plant in well-drained, light soil in full sun. Prefers mild areas.

Soil type

Chalky, Loamy, Sandy

Soil drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Light

Full Sun

Aspect

South, East, West

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.

Tender in frost (H3)

USDA zones

Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5

Defra's Risk register #1

Plant name

Euphorbia x martini 'Little John' (Martin's spurge 'Little John')

Common pest name

grape ground pearl

Scientific pest name

Margarodes vitis

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

5

General biosecurity comments

Main pathway; Vitis spp. plants for planting; already prohibited. However; further consideration of other pathways is required.

Defra's Risk register #2

Plant name

Euphorbia x martini 'Little John' (Martin's spurge 'Little John')

Common pest name

Banded-winged whitefly

Scientific pest name

Trialeurodes abutiloneus

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Polyphagous whitefly native to the Americas with the potential to introduce harmful viruses to the UK. EU regulation should be considered and further assessed by EPPO.

Defra's Risk register #3

Plant name

Euphorbia x martini 'Little John' (Martin's spurge 'Little John')

Common pest name

Powdery mildew: cotton; Powdery mildew: eggplant; Powdery mildew: pepper; Powdery mildew: tomato

Scientific pest name

Leveillula taurica

Type

Fungus

Current status in UK

Present (Limited)

Likelihood to spread in UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Believed to be present and no statutory action is being taken. Status needs to be confirmed by survey.

About this section

Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.

Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here

Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.

Date updated: 7^th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/