Scientific name: Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii
Synonym: Euphorbia wulfenii
Family: EUPHORBIACEAE
Common names: “Spurge” “Mediterranean spurge”
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub
Conditions:
Zone: 7-10
Light: Full sun best – semi-shade
Exposure: Sheltered
Soil: Fertile, light to average, even gravelly soil
Moisture: Well drained only, drought tolerant
Aesthetic:
Plant Size: 4’x4′ H & W
Leaf and Stem shape: Oblong, grey-green leaves
Flower: Large, rounded heads of greenish-yellow bracts and purple-brown nectar glands,
Pruning: Cut out flowered stems
Maintenance: Low, if transplanted at maturity, it will wilt for a year before straightening out
Landscape use: Drought Resistant Flower borders and beds, Mediterranean gardens, deer resistant garden
Propagate: By division and cuttings, self seeds
Pests & Disease: Generally healthy
*Deer proof
Comments: Buy named cultivars when possible, sap is a phototoxic irritant, especially bad on sunny days, not recommended for gardens with children
Cultivars: E. c. subsp. w. ‘John Tomlinson’ – large cymes, ~AGM winner
E. c. subsp. w. ‘Lambrook Gold’ – very bright, ~AGM winner