This is one of those note to self posts where I talk aloud about the plants I want to incorporate in the front garden. Today, I’ve got euphorbias on my mind.
This may be because the drift of Euphorbia oblongata that I planted last year are started to bush out. Or because what I think is Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii has appeared under some of the pheasant grass under the magnolia tree out back – it’s quite possible that I actually transplanted tiny seedlings of this into that bed early last year as we cleared ground and made foundations for my studio.
There was definitely swathes of this euphorbia in the original back border when i moved in, alongside sedum and winter jasmine. I’ve always tried to save the mature specimens that were here in this garden but sometime, with babes in arms, I haven’t always saved as many plants as I’d like. Saying that, there was also a period of time where I wanted rid of all this euphorbia as it exudes a milky white sap that can irritate the skin, especially in hot weather, and my kids were always brushing against it as they toddled or raced along the garden paths or jumped down into it from the tree.
Now i’m ready for a mass reintroduction, away from the rabble, out front where it’s bright lime habit, sculptural form and evergreen nature gives this area of our garden some constant features. I’ll definitely be planting more Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii, hopefully by moving what’s already there to the front. This architectural specimen has year round blue-green foliage on woody stems and large domed bright lime flowers in spring so I’ll plant it in 3s or 5s in clumps around the plot to bring some consistency alongside some evergreen ferns.
I’ll also add some more Euphorbia oblongata, the eggleaf spurge, but possibly by growing it from seed. This is one of Sarah Raven’s favourite cut flower foliage plants, forming the base of 80 percent of her flower arrangements. It flowers best in its first year apparently so she treats it as a hardy annual. Can’t wait to see the bright lime display from around the end of April.
I’ve also got my eye on Euphorbia x martinii, which has grey-green rosettes of foliage and uprights bracts of lime flowers with a distinctive red centre and two white tear-dropped shaped buds. It’s so pretty, epitomising why it’s so rewarding to look closer! This is also evergreen and produces flowers through spring and summer.
And finally i’m thinking about introducing Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae to the woodland area. This dark evergreen thrives in poor, dry, shady soil so it’s perfect for under our rowan and wild service tree, which are also overlooked by the majestic Corsican pine next door. Underground runners should help it create a weed-suppressing layer of green over time, plus I’m hoping the lime green flowers will add a spring/summer accent to the grasses and ferns.
Once again, bringing these inspirations and desires to a garden centre checkout can really add up, so I’m going to bite the bullet and set up a Whatsapp with friends so it’s easier to see who might have good fodder for cuttings – if they are willing to share their plants too of course! I always grow too many seeds as well so a good way to advertise ready seedlings over the coming weeks so I don’t get over emotional when it’s time to prick out.
With the equinox on the horizon, feeling excited about what spring and summer bprings.