They come from all over the world, but many euphorbias will happily make themselves at home in UK plots, including ‘Excalibur’ with its striking zingy bracts
Fall for the foliage of
Euphorbias
The perfect addition to any garden, spurges couple lovely leaves with unusual flowers and look great with many spring and summer favourites, says Louise Curley
E
VEN the most die-hard flower fan cannot deny the appeal of euphorbias, which provide fabulous foliage and structural presence – all in a vibrant-coloured, lowmaintenance package. Also known as spurges – a reference to the fact that they were once used in medicine as a purgative – euphorbias make up one of the largest plant genera in the world, with more than 2,000 species. Examples can be found on every continent except Antarctica, a diversity of habitat that means the genus includes desert-dwelling succulents, cactus-like trees in Africa, species from the Med, and even a couple that are native to British woodlands. Although the majority of them are too tender to survive in the UK, there are plenty that will happily thrive in our plots, where they make great garden plants. And because they offer such incredible variety, it’s no exaggeration to say that there is a euphorbia to suit virtually every situation and type of garden. 32 AMATEUR GARDENING 8 FEBRUARY 2020
What distinguishes them from other plants is the presence of tiny flowers that are gathered together in small clusters known as cyathia. In certain species, the cyathia are then surrounded by what look like petals, but that are, in fact, colourful bracts – modified leaves whose purpose is to attract pollinators. The right soil They are generally easy to grow as long as you get the soil conditions right. As a rule of thumb, euphorbias with silveryblue foliage hail from the Med, and will need free-draining conditions, shelter and plenty of sunshine – gravel gardens and sunny borders are ideal. The greenleaved ones tend to be happier with a bit of shade and a more moist soil. The one downside to euphorbias is that when they’re damaged they exude a milky sap that is poisonous if ingested and a serious irritant to the skin and eyes. For that reason, it’s important that you wear gloves, long sleeves and even goggles when handling them. It’s also
worth planting them away from areas of high footfall, where people might brush past them, and to restrict them to places where children never play. This toxic sap has the advantage of ensuring that euphorbias rarely suffer from pest problems, however. If you’ve never tried euphorbias before – or if you want to add to your collection – as the ground gradually warms up in the coming weeks it’s a good time to start planting them. Get them in borders (or even in pots) soon and they will provide the perfect foil for spring-flowering bulbs and perennials.
Where to buy Beth Chatto bethchatto.co.uk 01206 822007 Burncoose burncoose.co.uk 01209 860316 Crocus crocus.co.uk 01344 578111
