Euphorbia Miner's Merlot
 A vigorous evergreen to semi-evergreen perennial with a mounding rounded habit to 2 feet tall by about an equal width. It has strong upright stems that emerge from the plant base and hold narrow 3 to 4 inch long linear-oblanceolate leaves in whorls that first emerge a dark wine red color. Older leaves turn dark green with age but the red coloration is retained on the back side of the upturned leaves through spring and summer, so the overall color of the plant remains very dark red in appearance and all foliage deepens in color to a near black dark burgundy color at the onset of colder temperatures in fall. Plant in full to part sun in a well-drained soil and give regular to occasional irrigation. It is moderately drought tolerant and deer seem to avoid it, likely because broken stems exude the typical Euphorbia latex that can be toxic and irritating to the skin - best to use gloves when trimming any such plant. Euphorbia Miner's Merlot is an attractive and useful plant in a container, perennial bed, border or within a meadow planting and the flowering stems are useful in arrangements.