Perennial shrub to 4 m high, usually single-stemmed from rootstock, each stem branched many times; evergreen or partially deciduous. Leaves alternate, not clustered in rosette on flowering stems; blade elliptic, up to 200 mm long, 130 mm wide, sometimes with 1-3 lobes on edges, upper surface dark green, lower surface pale green-grey; tip pointed to acuminate; base wedge-shaped; petiole filiform, up to 25 mm long. Floral HEADs subtended with brightly coloured rays that are elliptic to obovate, up to 100 mm long, 30 mm wide on a petiole up to 25 mm long, red, white, yellow or pink. Cyathia 7-9 mm wide; glands 4, elliptic, yellow.

Numerous cultivars are available, that differ in habit and bract colours. Many cultivars are distributed unnamed, and 'renaming' of cultivars is common.

E. 'Lemon Drop' Dwarf habit, bracts lemon. PVJ 6(4)53.

E. 'Pink Peppermint' Tall habit, bracts pale pink to cream. PVJ 6(3)6.

S Mexico, N Guatemala.

Source: Forster, P. (2002). Euphorbiaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.