The genus Euphorbia belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family. It is one of the most diverse plant genera.
At Sala Graupera we have 6 species, all native to the Mediterranean region, and very drought resistant. In this first post we will talk about three of them.
A common characteristic of almost all members of the genus is their toxicity, due to different esters that irritate skin and mucous membranes.
_Euphorbia dendroides_
It is a compact shrubby plant. It is a plant wider than it is tall, as it can reach two and a half meters wide by one and a half meters high.
Its leaves are evergreen, lanceolate and entire. These detach from the plant during very dry periods in summer as a drought resistance strategy; before doing so, they first change color from yellowish green to reddish.
It blooms between the months of March and May. The inflorescence is umbelliform, greenish-yellow in color, and the flowers have orange nectariferous glands.
Image of Euphorbia dendroides; Source: http://luirig.altervista.org/
It is a species belonging to hardiness zone number 8, with an annual minimum average temperature range of -12.2 / -6.7°C.
Its water needs, as we have already said, are very low, especially once it is well rooted, being able to withstand long periods of drought. Without needing any watering during summer.
It is a species that grows well in full sun. And it is the only euphorbia from Sala Graupera resistant to salinity and sea breeze.
It lives in both calcareous and siliceous soils, preferably well drained.
_Euphorbia_ 'Diamond Frost' ®
It is a creeping shrubby plant, reaching one meter wide.
Its leaves are evergreen and green in color, and its flowering takes place between the months of March and October, with white flowers. It is a very abundant and showy flowering.
Image of Euphorbia 'Diamond Frost'; Source: © Guillem Morral
It is a species belonging to hardiness zone number 9, with an annual minimum average temperature range of -6.6 / -1.2°C.
Its water needs are also very low, it responds well to some watering during summer.
It is a species that grows well in full sun and partial shade.
It lives in both calcareous and siliceous soils, preferably well drained.
_Euphorbia characias_ subsp. Wulfenii
It is a compact shrubby plant. It is a species taller than it is wide, as it can reach 1.20 meters high by one meter wide.
Its leaves are evergreen, large, oblong and greyish green in color, arranged spirally along the stem.
It blooms between the months of March and June. The inflorescence is umbelliform, greenish-yellow in color, with purple glands.
Image of Euphorbia characias subsp. Wulfenii; Source: © Guillem Morral
It is a species belonging to hardiness zone number 8, with an annual minimum average temperature range of -12.2 / -6.7°C.
Its water needs are also very low, without needing any watering during summer.
It is a species that grows well in full sun.
It tolerates acidic, neutral or basic soils, as well as sandy, clayey or silty soil textures, with the only condition of good drainage.
All these euphorbias are very suitable for low maintenance gardening, and can be used in flowerbeds and median strips. They are also suitable species for planting in rock gardens. All of them have a more or less rounded habit without needing pruning, which makes them ideal for giving structure in gardens. The Euphorbia 'Diamond Frost' is very suitable for growing in pots.
It is advisable to remove the flowering once it has passed, performing a light pruning to encourage very abundant new flowering in the following spring.