Glorious euphorbias

Glorious euphorbias

Bold and eye-catching, the lemon and lime displays put on by euphorbias in flower are the perfect foil for the blooms of surrounding plants. Dramatic purples, blues, pinks and reds provide the best contrast, allowing participants in the spring and summer garden the opportunity to show exactly how well they can perform. Strangely, euphorbia flowers are tiny and insignificant; it’s actually the bracts surrounding them that positively sing with energy. Some are evergreen, adding year-round interest to beds and borders and many are nectar-rich, despite the flowers’ modest appearance, keen to do their bit for pollinators too.

Varied and versatile, there are over 2,000 species worldwide. Most like full sun and well-drained soil but others are woodland plants, and a couple will even thrive in permanently damp soil. This diversity means they’re at home in almost every garden, regardless of its style and conditions. Formal, cottage, Mediterranean or shaded, there’s one for every site. The leaves are mostly dark or grey-green but a few have contrasting burgundy stems, others have moody, deep purple leaves and cactus-like, desert-growing euphorbias are sold as houseplants. Diminutive wildflower Euphorbia peplus or petty spurge can also be seen popping up uninvited in fields and gardens. Often considered a weed, to lovers of wilder spaces it looks enchanting growing between paving stones surrounded by self-seeded forget-me-nots and Mexican fleabane, Erigeron karvinskianus.

Did you know?

That Christmas favourite, the poinsettia, is a euphorbia too.

There are about 150 hardy species of euphorbia available to the gardener. For a fabulous tour around their world, visit Oxford Botanic Garden, which holds the National Collection https://www.glam.ox.ac.uk/botanic-garden. Here are just a few of them.

Happiest in a sunny spot:

Perhaps the most impressive of euphorbias, E. characias subsp. wulfenii has tall, columnar clumps of blueish green leaves capped with heads of chartreuse bracts. Striking and architectural, it’s semi-evergreen and often seen in both formal gardens. E. characias ‘Black Pearl’ is smaller but equally stunning, with purplish-black halos around the flowers. Both are sun-lovers, flowering in spring. Try them with royal purple and magenta lupins and airy cow parsley, particularly the purple stemmed form, Anthriscus sylvestris ‘Ravenswing’.

Evergreen E. x martini has grey-green leaves complemented by bracts the colour of fresh limes with burgundy centres. The tiny but long-lasting flowers sometimes have

deep purple eyes. Combined with purple lavender or nepeta and orange geums it adds real pzazz to sunny borders.

Thriving in shady areas:

E. amygdaloides var. robbiae: this resilient and adaptable plant grows in both sun and shade, where it’s also tolerant of dry soils. It’s evergreen too, with acid yellow flowers appearing in spring and summer. Spreading by underground runners, it has the potential to take over if left entirely to itself over a long period but is invaluable for difficult areas where it forms a spreading carpet under trees and large shrubs. Try it with shade tolerant violet vincas or ever-popular hardy geraniums ‘Rozanne’ or Geranium phaeum.

Euphorbia lore: its common name, Mrs Robb’s bonnet, derives from its discovery in Turkish woodland by Victorian botanist Mary Ann Robb. She is said to have smuggled it home under her hat. There are, rightly, strict rules regarding the importation of plants because of the alarming spread of pests, diseases and invasive species. But it makes for a good story!

Thriving in damp soil:

E. palustris prefers consistently moist soil in full sun. Umbrella-like flower heads the colour of pistachios appear in spring while the leaves sometimes take on orange tints in autumn. Partnered with scarlet or pink candelabra primulas, it’s a fine addition to areas around ponds and other damp places.

Dazzling E. griffithii ‘Fireglow’ is my personal favourite, with heads of blazing coral bracts from early summer. It’s adaptable as well as glorious, happy in both sun and part shade. Plant it with lilac-blue camassias and sky-blue forget-me-nots for an arresting display of colour.

For dry, sunny places

The low-growing, architectural stems of sweet little E. myrsinites have the look of caterpillars as they trail over the edges of borders to soften the edges of paths. Drought- tolerant and evergreen, it ably meets the challenge of dry alpine and rock gardens and well-drained, sloping sites. With grey-green leaves and heads of sulphur yellow bracts in spring, its natural companions are wonderful snow-in-summer, Cerastium tomentosum, royal purple aubretia and bright pink sea thrift, Armeria maritima.

For purple leaves:

The young leaves of E. ‘Miner’s Merlot’ are burgundy, deepening to aubergine as they mature. These are topped by acid-yellow flowers from spring to summer. A daring colour combination, it can work really well with silver-leaved plants like santolina, eryngium and stachys. Happiest in full sun, it’s also drought tolerant once established.

We may not have all the plants listed in our stores but staff will be happy to suggest alternatives.

Self-sufficient and easy-going, euphorbias will maintain their good looks with very little coaxing. Just cut the flower stems back in summer once they begin to die. Their only shortcoming is that the sap is an irritant, so do wear gloves when handling them. https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/euphorbia

Euphorbias’ rather unflattering common name, spurge, really doesn’t do them justice. Beautiful in their own right, they’re also the perfect companion to many other plants. Gardeners’ World’s Joe Swift is a big fan. Tough, versatile and easy to grow, they’re an invaluable addition to outdoor spaces for beginners and experienced gardeners alike.