Euphorbia ‘Bonfire’

* Common name: Wood spurge ‘Bonfire’

* Botanical name: Euphorbia polychroma ‘Bonfire’

* What it is: A perennial flower that looks like a mini-shrub. The plant grows in a compact rounded form and has colorful red-tinted leaves all season. Gets clusters of chartreuse flowers in May.

* Size: 12 to 15 inches tall. Plant 2 feet apart.

* Where to use: Sunny or lightly shaded foundation beds, lining walks and spotted throughout flower gardens and border beds. Likes full sun best.

* Care: ‘Bonfire’ usually browns out later in winter. Cut back to a few inches of the ground at end of winter. Once established, these Mediterranean natives are very heat- and drought-tolerant and are seldom bothered by bugs or animal pests. An annual spring scattering of Plant-tone or similar balanced organic fertilizer is plenty.

* Great partner: Backdrop with taller, wispy threadleaf bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii) or any ornamental grass.