Mediterranean Spurge

A stunning, architectural plant with year-round interest, Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii is a medium-sized, fast-growing, drought-tolerant, evergreen sub-shrub with biennial stems. It’s wonderful in a sunny, dry traditional border, in a gravel planting, as a feature plant in a sunny courtyard, or massed. The blue-green leaves are oblong, clothing the branches in the most handsome way. In March and April and well into May, huge, cylindrical flower-heads of lime-green, typical spurge flowers with a bronze eye are carried at the tips of the stems, well above the foliage. In summer, cut to the base stems which have flowered, to allow the current year’s growth through; be aware that the thick, white, profuse sap is an irritant, and can cause photosensitivity, so wear gloves and eye-protection, and wash off any splashes at once. Mediterranean spurge looks great all year round, and is very good for pollinators.

Site: Sheltered
Soil: Any light, well-drained soil
Position: Full sun
Season of interest: All year, March to May in particular
Hardiness: Fully hardy
Height: 4’ (1.2m) Spread: 3’ (90cm)