Euphorbias in the Garden – Good Doers in Different Conditions and Situations Don Witton

©Don Witton ©Don Witton Euphorbias in the garden – good doers in different conditions and situations Don Witton

Euphorbias on Don’s allotment in May

ith about 2,200 the cold, hard winters of Wknown species, genus central Asia. The hardy leafy euphorbias can be found Euphorbia is the second largest spurges, which Hardy Planters growing in a wide range genus of plants on the planet are more interested in, come of habitats including full, with wild species growing from temperate regions of hot sun through to quite on every continent except Europe and Asia including the deep shade, free-draining Antarctica. Having such a Himalaya region. wide distribution, euphorbias scree to moist, heavier soils. have evolved to survive in There are species which are a wide range of climatic Even within this smaller just a few centimetres high conditions from hot, dry, arid group (around 150 wild to 2.4m+ giants and every parts of Africa and India to species and their forms) size in between. sub-tropical rainforests and ©Don Witton ©Don Witton ©Don Witton

Fig.1 E. amygdaloides var. robbiae in the winter garden at Harlow Carr Fig. 2 E. amygdaloides ‘Purpurea’ at Ripley Castle in May

41 ©Don Witton ©Don Witton ©Don Witton

Figs 3a & b E. Redwing – a young plant in February & in full bloom

E. ‘Blue Haze’ will continue exception is E. characias from Different varieties will grow to flower deep into the the Mediterranean. It is very in a wide range of positions autumn, displaying that variable in the wild and there in the garden and, with wonderfully fresh, chartreuse are 3 subspecies; consequently careful choice, just about acid-yellow colour which there are about 30 named every garden situation can associates so well with many cultivars listed in the Plant other plants. Finder. Other species that accommodate a euphorbia Unlike genera such as produce a few cultivars suitable or two. Hosta, Hemerocallis, Phlox and for the garden are amygdaloides, hardy geraniums, for example, cyparissias, griffithii and The main flowering period most Euphorbia species do epithymoides. The latter we is April to June but there are not hybridize easily or sport, all probably know better as E. species which flower earlier, so there are not hundreds polychroma, but after the recent and others which flower of varieties to choose Euphorbia trials at Wisley an throughout the summer from. Many good garden earlier name was found, which months. Some of these, for euphorbias are straight- in nomenclature terms always example E. ceratocarpa and from-the-wild species. The takes precedence.

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Fig. 4 E. epithymoides ‘Golden Fusion’ with camassias Fig. 5 E. epithymoides ‘First Blush’

42 ©Don Witton ©Don Witton ©Don Witton

Fig. 6 E. epithymoides ‘Midas’ at Avondale Nursery gardens Fig. 7 E. characias subsp. characias ‘Humpty Dumpty’

Its common name is still the perfect aspects and still put on never tell you that it creeps Cushion Spurge and it is my a good show. and spreads. Placed correctly favourite species. it has many virtues: glossy, So whether it’s for front, SPRING FLOWERING deep-green evergreen leaves; middle or back of the border, in SHADE good ground cover all year spring or summer flowering, These are euphorbias for round; survives, thrives and sun or shade, moist or difficult dry shade to dappled flowers in dry, dark difficult dry, here are some of my woodland shade. parts of the garden; it flowers recommendations for good E. amygdaloides var. robbiae early and in shade the bracts garden plants. The conditions (fig. 1) will be lime green. In time the do not have to be exact as most This is the one that garden original planting will die out as euphorbias will tolerate not- centres always stock but they it travels forward but it is easy

©Don Witton ©Don Witton ©Don Witton

Fig. 8 E. griffithii ‘Dixter’ Fig. 9 E. myrsinites in a scree garden

43 ©Don Witton ©Don Witton ©Don Witton

Fig. 10 E. ‘Blue Haze’ in July Fig. 11 E. ceratocarpa in late October

enough to dig up and replant it has evergreen foliage SPRING FLOWERING in any bare patches. which colours up maroon in SUN E. amygdaloides ‘Purpurea’ in the cold winter months. In this category there is (fig. 2) The likeness finishes there more choice than any other Another common variety as this plant, at up to 60cm, so I will mention some of with maroon evergreen leaves is bushy and more compact the more eye-catching forms which look good in dappled, and will smother itself in which perform well in gardens. shady woodland conditions. floral bracts from late winter All are deciduous except Lime-green bracts up to until summer. The colour Humpty Dumpty. 75cm, it is fairly short-lived will be more lime in shade E. epithymoides ‘Golden but will produce seedlings in and brighter yellow in more Fusion’ (fig. 4) the right conditions. sun. Redwing is not as This form was collected in E. Redwing (figs 3a & b) popular as it was 10 years the Balkans by John Massey. It This is a compact sport of ago, but it is still one of my produces masses of flowering E. x martini and like martini favourites. stems and is the earliest form

©Don Witton ©Don Witton ©Don Witton

Figs 12a & b E. x pasteurii

Fig. 13 E. nereidum of epithymoides to flower in stems with tightly packed, will cope with heavier, more March, going through to May. cylindrical inflorescences moisture-retentive soils than E. epithymoides ‘First Blush’ on the lime side of yellow. the Mediterranean forms. (fig. 5) Evergreen, it gives height It has bright red bracts and The best variegated form and floral impact early in ruddy, bloodshot stem leaves. with very attractive cream the year. It will make a large spreading and blushing pink leaves and E. palustris clump over the years but can bracts. In the 6 years I’ve As the name suggests, be divided in late winter if it grown it there has been no the Swamp Spurge grows in needs to be kept to a desired sign of reversion. At around moister conditions than the size. 40cm it is one of the smaller average euphorbia. However forms and needs to be grown I grow it in the same soil ROCK GARDEN and at the front of a sunny border. as most other plants in SCREE BED E. epithymoides ‘Midas’ my garden with an annual All these like plenty of (fig. 6) mulch, and on the drier side sunshine and free-draining My favourite form of my of the Pennines it is fine, soil. They are not petite plants, favourite species, but it is making a large 1.2m+ solid often growing wider than becoming scarce and would mound of golden yellow they are tall which makes be a good contender for our flowers in April and May. them suitable for the larger HPS Conservation Scheme. E. griffithii‘Dixter’ (fig. 8) rockery. They are also suitable It is a strong, upright form to The griffithii species for large patio pots, sinks and about 60cm with vivid eye- brings shades of red and containers. catching yellow flowers; May orange to the floral palette E. myrsinites (fig. 9) is its peak flowering month. of euphorbias and this is an A popular choice, a very E. characias subsp. characias excellent form, introduced prostrate form only 30cm tall ‘Humpty Dumpty’ (fig. 7) by Christopher Lloyd of but it can reach 90cm across At around 90cm it is not Great Dixter. It is a deciduous in favourible conditions. It the tallest form of characias multi-stemmed plant for the has small, glaucous, evergreen but it is a strong grower, often middle of the border. Coming foliage and lime-yellow producing 60+ evergreen from the Himalaya region, it flowers in March–April.

with a mass of tiny starry yellow flowers, ageing to orange. E. ‘Blue Haze’ (fig. 10) One of my favourites, this hybrid of E. seguieriana and E. nicaeensis has thin glaucous evergreen leaves and a mass of yellow flowering stems cover the plant from May through to autumn. It grows to about 45cm tall and 60cm across.

SHRUBS Shrubby forms come from southern Europe and may Figs 14a & b E. Excalibur need some protection in harsh winters in the northern E. rigida E. spinosa half of Britain. Closely related to E. An unusual shrub for the E. ceratocarpa (fig. 11) myrsinites but more upright, rock garden with a strange From Sicily, this is a sub- and the glaucous evergreen species name as it has no shrub as the stems are woody leaves are larger and more spines. Woody stems branch at the bottom while new pointed. It is not as hardy as up to 30cm tall but then growth is herbaceous. It is E. myrsinites so is suitable for grow outwards and a mature around 1.2m tall with a lax outdoor cultivation only in plant can be over 90cm habit, but it can be trimmed warmer parts of the country across. If it grows too wide regularly and will soon or as a large alpine-house it can be given an annual produce new flowering stems. plant. The flowers are more haircut with garden shears The bright yellow flowers are yellow and earlier than E. in March to maintain a more produced over a long period myrsinites, often starting in compact shape. In May and and in mild winters it will February. June it will be smothered flower all year round.

46 E. cornigera Probably the most popular and easy to source of ©Don Witton ©Don Witton ©Don Witton the summer-flowering forms. At around 90cm tall this is one of the smaller Himalayan species. It has distinct, dark red stems, and branching inflorescences from the end of June to August. E. schillingii Collected by Tony Schilling in Nepal, it has masses of bright yellow flowers on 1.2m+ stems from Figs 15a & b E. sikkimensis in February, & at Bodnant with Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ June to August. E. Excalibur (figs 14a & b) E. mellifera flowering in May can keep it A seedling cross, probably The Honey Spurge is a to a more compact size. of E. schillingii and E. cornigera. handsome evergreen shrub. The In late winter it has exquisite buff flowers exude a rich, sweet, SUMMER FLOWERING emerging foliage in shades honey smell and May is the (JUNE–AUGUST) of pink, maroon, cream and peak flowering month. Coming Apart from E. nereidum green, fading to green with from the Canary Islands, it needs (which is evergreen, and comes a white midrib by flowering a sunny, sheltered spot in the from the Atlas mountains in time in June when it will be garden. It is about 1.8m tall Morocco), the best summer- 1.2m tall. but can be taller in protected flowering forms are all E. sikkimensis (figs 15a & b) southern gardens. deciduous and come from the A very distinctive species E. x pasteurii (figs 12a & b) Himalaya region. They like to from the eastern end of A cross between E. see plenty of sun but will cope the Himalaya. It is a multi- mellifera and E. stygiana which well in east- or west-facing stemmed, spreading plant occurred at Oxford Botanic borders that see sun for only with bright shocking-pink Garden, it has the best half the day. They all have emerging leaves and stems attributes of both parents: rich bright yellow flowers. in late winter. Some of this honey scent, golden yellow E. nereidum (fig. 13) pink persists right through flowers and fabulous large A large back-of-the-border to flowering from July to rich-green evergreen foliage. It plant making a thick clump over September. It is taller than also has hybrid vigour and has time and reaching about 2.4m most Himalayan forms grown to 2.4m tall and the tall. It will start flowering in June and at around 1.5–1.8m is same across. However, pruning and remain in flower through to suitable for the middle-to- and shaping the plant after Christmas in a mild autumn. back of the border.

Don Witton is a passionate Hardy Planter and grows his National Collection of Euphorbia (Hardy forms) amongst hundreds of other perennials on his large allotment south of Sheffield. He is the author of the HPS booklet on hardy euphorbias. www.euphorbias.co.uk