Euphorbia Characias Wulfenii

Euphorbia Characias Wulfenii is a tough but handsome evergreen border shrub with branching stems and greeny-yellow flowers.

Euphorbia is a Mediterranean shrub that’s naturally found on rocky ground and dry slopes. It has erect branches with oblong grey-green fleshy leaves. These evergreen leaves remain in place all year round and from March to May are joined by large heads of pollen-rich yellowy flowers with bronze eyes.

This is a hard-working plant that’s filled UK gardens with architectural shapes for centuries and holds the RHS plants for pollinators title. Whatever your garden’s style or theme reliable Euphorbia has a low maintenance part to play.

Height and Spread of Euphorbia Characias Wulfenii
Euphorbia is a fast-growing clump-forming shrub that will reach a maximum height of 1.5 metres and spread over 1.2 metres.

How Hardy Is Euphorbia Characias Wulfenii
This is a hardy shrub that suits the majority of UK gardens down to sub-zero temperatures. By nature, it is drought tolerant and rarely bothered by pests.

How To Use Euphorbia Characias Wulfenii
This is an excellent plant for all soils including dry, chalky gardens.
Euphorbia has long been used in cottage style planting as a background to swathes of colourful temporary summer flowers. In more modern gardens euphorbia brings upright contemporary structure throughout the year.
Low maintenance gravel gardens, tricky slopes, and pollinator-friendly wildlife gardens also benefit from Euphorbia Characias Wulfenii, and it will grow in a well-fed and watered container too. Try moving a container of euphorbia around your garden to fill bare spaces as the summer plants come and go.

How To Care For Euphorbia Characias Wulfenii
Once established euphorbia can be left to its own devices. It enjoys a position in full sun and will produce more flowers when it’s grown in a warm spot.  
Each stem of this shrub is biennial which means it grows leaves in its first year and flowers the second year. Prune back stems once the flower head has finished to encourage new flowering growth.
A layer of mulch applied to the roots once a year in spring will keep euphorbia healthy and glowing.
Be aware that euphorbia contains an irritating milky sap, so be sure to wear your gardening gloves when handling or pruning it.