Euphorbia

An incredibly diverse range of plants, over 1500 different species, native to almost every country in the world. From trees down to small cacti like succulents. This is reflected in Beth's garden, with E. characias subsp. wulfenii in the Dry Garden, E. palustris in the Water Garden, E. amygdaloides var. robbiae in the woodland, E. myrsinities in the Scree Garden and E. cornigera in the new Reservoir Garden and many more! Foliage is often neat, with blue-grey colouring typical for plants enjoying a hot dry site, whilst others will colour up when emerging or during autumn. Flowers are typically small, but in large quantities and surrounded by colourful bracts, providing quite a show. The Christmas poinsettia, is Euphorbia pulcherrima, native to Mexico and Guatemala. Flor de Nochebuena, flower of Christmas Eve!

A very large and clearly defined genus, euphorbia contains numerous native plants as well as a larger number of non-natives that we grow in gardens. Some of the non-natives do appear in natural habitats, but none are giving rise to ecological concern at present. All species have flowers in a unique structure, a cyathium, which contains specialized nectar glands, the shape of which is important for identification, and which attracts visiting pollinators, especially flies and ladybirds. The irritant milky sap has several functions, to hold on to water and make many of the species very drought-tolerant, and to deter herbivores. But as always something gets around such defences: if you are very lucky your spurges may be eaten by the huge and dramatically coloured larvae of the spurge hawk-moth.

The white-milky sap can irritate skin and eyes, so wearing gloves and other protective equipment is recommended.