You will inevitably find a euphorbia that will be enjoyed in your garden whether you live in an arid or more humid area. These plants taking multiple aspects and supporting many climatic conditions, are vigorous and easy to grow! Small portrait of this vast family...
An exceptional variety
The genus Euphorbia is one of the most complex and varied in the plant world with more than 2000 species and multiple cultivars. Including trees, deciduous or evergreen shrubs as well as herbaceous or succulent plants, it offers a wide range of possibilities for all gardens.
Despite their very diverse morphologies and silhouettes, plants of the genus Euphorbia all have one thing in common: their toxic and irritating white sap that flows as soon as part of the plant is cut.
Moreover, in the world of succulents, euphorbias from other 'cacti' are easily recognized thanks to this distinctive sign. This sap preserves them from parasites and predators that are not interested in the genus, making it easier for the gardener! Euphorbias have a reputation for keeping moles away from your garden, take advantage of it!
The very atypical flowering also puts us on the trail of a plant belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family. The inflorescences composed of cyathes with very small male and female flowers can be terminal or axillary, rounded or pyramidal, often surrounded by welded bracts, yellow, green, purple or brown. The inflorescences last but the flowers are rather ephemeral.
As for the conditions of culture, they differ according to the species! Make sure you know before installing a euphorbia in the garden, some prefer the heat and full sun, others prefer shady and humid areas!
Garden euphorbias
Here we will leave aside the columnar, tree-like and succulent species such as E. canariensis or E.candelabrum, which can only grow in the garden in the very sheltered, warm and frost-free areas of our country to concentrate on the species and cultivars accessible to all gardeners.
The woodland spurge
Very present in the gardens Euphorbia amydaloides, otherwise known as 'Spurge of the woods', is a herbaceous perennial plant with bushy growth habit that can reach 80 cm in all directions. This species particularly appreciates cool, humus-rich soils and semi-shaded exposure. The long spatulate leaves can take a magnificent purple color on the variety 'Purpurea'. The very decorative spring bloom animates the plant of its inflorescences in terminal cyathes anise green. This very rustic species is suitable for all gardens and magnifies the shaded flowerbeds, the undergrowth or the foot of shrubs.
Note the interest of the cultivar Euphorbia amydaloides 'Robbiae', ideal as ground cover for dry and poor ground that it quickly colonizes thanks to its tracing roots. The shiny green foliage and lemon yellow inflorescences make it an ideal subject to illuminate a shady slope or an area where nothing grows.
The euphorbia of the scrublands
He is an undisputed star in the kingdom of euphorbias and Euphorbia characias is one of them! Among its assets, its robustness and amazing growth speed! This euphorbia has been so successful in gardens that breeders have declined it into multiple cultivars. Its bushy, upright and compact habit (up to 1.2 m in all directions), its very graphic silhouette and its splendid spherical cymes inflorescences make it a very appreciated subject by landscape gardeners to bring binder to flower beds or to create textural effects.
Easy to grow, it thrives in all types of well-drained soils and in full sun, where it doesn't even need watering to grow and shine! Very hardy, it can be introduced into any garden. If you like variegated foliage, install 'Silver Swan' in your home with its incredible speed of growth! The bluish blue foliage variegated with white is evergreen. Creamy inflorescences with purple centers adorn the garden from March to May.
Tasmanian Tiger' also makes its effect with its linear blue foliage with yellow margins and its pale yellow and green inflorescences that are very abundant at the same time.
For a contrasting effect, consider the 'Blue Wonder' variety with blue foliage and bright yellow inflorescences tinged with aniseed green. Ideal in massive, it also enters also in the compositions in mixed-border to which they give relief.
The euphorbia small cypress
Euphorbia cyparissias is a good choice for ground cover, but beware, it can become very invasive. Rustic, enjoying full sun and all well drained soils, it presents fine stems with bluish-green leaves turning yellow in autumn. The aniseed green inflorescences can become orange in very poor soil.
The mole spurge
Euphorbia lathyris (purge) has a bluish green foliage, very symmetrical graphic, arranged in a cross around the stem. This biennial plant produces inflorescences in aniseed green triangular terminal umbels in summer which will later give fruits similar to capers releasing seeds in great number and thus ensuring its return to the garden each year.
Marsh spurge
Euphorbia palustris, the marsh spurge, is a very robust pond plant. It appreciates wet areas and enjoys the full sun. Its bright yellow bloom at the end of spring should not make us forget the autumn tints of its stems and its foliage turning pink and orange.
The polychrome euphorbia
Euphorbia polychroma and its multiple cultivars is very appreciated by gardeners for its rapid growth and ease of cultivation in all soils and exposures. This bushy perennial has dark green foliage often tinged with purple. In summer, the bright yellow terminal cymes can reach 8 cm in diameter. This very ornamental euphorbia naturally finds its place in beds, mixed borders or borders.
