Euphorbia nicaeensis

spurge

• Position: full sun
• Soil: fertile, well drained
• Rate of growth: average
• Hardiness: fully hardy
  
  A superb, hardy, evergreen perennial, this produces huge, long-lasting, wand-like clusters of chartreuse flowerheads in spring. The foliage is handsome, too, with strappy, grey-green leaves held in whorls on upright stems. Euphorbia nicaeensis originates from the Caucauses and Turkey, where it is found on dry rocky slopes and scrubland, so it is very tolerant of drought once it becomes established. It forms a natural rounded shape, and brings structure and an architectural quality to the garden. It looks equally at home in a contemporary minimalist garden, or in a herbaceous border.
  
  
• Garden care: After flowering remove the faded flower-heads. When working with spurges always wear gloves since the milky sap is poisonous and a potential skin irritant. Euphorbias do not like waterlogged soil.