South American Plants - Euphorbia

Name - These plants are commonly known as Spurge, and have some European cousins. However, many are tropical or subtropical and not easily grown in the open garden, and some such as the poinsettia, are generally grown as house or greenhouse plants.

Description - The flowers are small and individually insignificant, but they are surrounded by coloured bracts which look like petals. The bracts, which are modified leaves, usually appear in shades of yellow or gold, and - unlike petals - they last for a long time without fading, giving the spurges a long ‘flowering’ season. They can also be trimmed into structural shapes, which is valuable in garden areas that are low in fertility – you see this used a lot in waste ground in South America. One variety, sometimes referred to in the USA as the scarlet plume, euphorbia fulgens, a shrub, is a native of Mexico which is generally as a cut flower. Be aware though that working with euphorbias can be risky, see below!

Origin – Euphorbias can grow in a range of soils, the majority doing best in a well-drained medium. Some of the early-flowering species need to be cut down after flowering to get a new flush of foliage - the old tends to get mildew. Gardeners do need to be careful of the sap which can cause skin irritation and is very painful if it gets into your eye. Always wear gloves and keep your arms covered when working near them and ensure pets and small children are not allowed to go near the cut plants until the sap dries and is no longer toxic. If you suffer a strong reaction, go to your GP immediately, as you may need steroids to deal with the sensitivity.

For decoration – To be honest, it’s not recommended, as this plant can spread its sap which is irritant and can even be toxic to the eye or the mucus membranes of the nose. However, if you can use it where the display won’t be touched by viewers, the graceful arches of euphorbia fulgens enhance floral arrangements, contributing flowing lines and interesting textural contrasts.

South American Euphorbia photograph by tanakahwo, used under a creative commons attribution licence

 

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