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January 24, 2006 : Euphorbia mellifera
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Keywords: Euphorbiaceae | Euphorbia mellifera Ait. | 37939-0558-2005
Brent Hine only recently planted this spurge in 2005, so I've yet to see and smell its flowers. I'm particularly anticipating the fragrance. If you're familiar with the common name for another organism, Apis mellifera, you can likely guess that the flowers are honey-scented. This photograph shows the other reason it is popular in gardens – its foliage. Indeed, garden designer Mary Newstead gives it high praise: “arguably the finest member of the Euphorbia family”.
Often cited as being native to the Canary Islands (which it is), honey spurge can also be found in the Madeira Islands. If my translation of Portuguese is correct, in the Funchal Ecological Park of Madeira Island, it grows as an understory shrub or small tree. In colder temperate climes, though, it grows as a small shrub or shrubby perennial.
Botany / science resource link: Electronic Sites of Leading Botany, Plant Biology and Science Journals links to the web sites of nearly one thousand scientific journals. A quick browse of the list reveals the depth and breadth of botany sensu lato (in the broad sense).
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at January 24, 2006 2:29 AM
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Posted by: Patricia at January 24, 2006 9:49 AM
Rated Zone 8 by BOTANICA, which says "Although not very frost hardy, in favorable positions in a sunny, sheltered garden it will make an impressive feature plant". Other references rate it Zone 9. I had one here for awhile, it never amounted to much but the position was rooty, with hedging behind. A planting at a grocery in Seattle was conspicuous. Next to the dramatic leaves the small, bronze green bracts are a letdown, resembling Veratrum spp. in this respect: you expect something equally arresting to come out of the top of those leaves.
Posted by: Ron B at January 24, 2006 10:00 AM
Not to disagree totally with Mary Newstead, but I'd like to suggest Euphorbia polychroma is a finer plant. My prejudice, of course.
I'd link to one of my pictures of it, but I haven't scanned them yet.
Posted by: Jeremy Cherfas at January 25, 2006 12:56 AM
arguably the BEST euphorbia.
Posted by: carla at April 12, 2006 9:22 PM
A wonderful plant! Mine suffered in a pot for years so I could move it to follow the sun in my shady garden in Ireland. We moved and it has now been in open fertile ground, sheltered from the wind, for two years. It has grown hugely, keeps its shapely green leaves over winter and flowered last summer. Amazing scent of honey - absolutlely fabulous. I love this plant.
Posted by: Jane Touhey at March 8, 2007 2:18 AM
I wonder whether this actually might not be mellifera, but instead stygiana - it has strong ivory midribs running down the leaves and such strongly red fall foliage.
Posted by: emma townshend at April 14, 2008 4:53 AM
Wonderful plant! Though it hates very cold winds, the honey fragrance and the wonderful shape of the plant is fabulous.
Posted by: Jane at April 27, 2008 9:59 AM
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What lovely plant. You show me such blooms that keeps me coming to your site everyday. What profusion.