Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii has featured once already in Daily Flower Candy, but I couldn’t resist including a photograph taken this weekend in our local park, where it has formed rolling mounds of acid-green flowers almost as tall as I am. In bright sunlight the effect is dazzling; brighter and zestier than any host of golden daffodils.
My adoration of this Mediterranean marvel was swiftly curtailed by Him Indoors, who described it as triffid-like. At first I failed to appreciate the similarity to John Wyndham’s vegetative villain, but on closer inspection the flowers and bracts do have a slightly alien look. I’d liken them more, especially the twin green ‘buds’, to sinister Audrey II from Little Shop of Horrors. Either way, I think I’ll give this Euphorbia a slightly wider berth in future. One can never be too careful.
Categories: Daily Flower Candy, Flowers, Perennials, Plants
Lovely. I really love Euphorbia. Beautiful close up photograph.
Not bad for an iPhone snap!
Lovely – one of my absolute favourites!
I love Euphorbia characias, especially this one which is pure yellow and doesn’t have a black eye. It is a good idea to give it a wide berth though, it’s sap can give you horrible blisters which last for weeks, especially when exposed to the sun. So Him Indoors has got a point. Like all Euphorbias it seeds around rather too enthusiastically too. Actually, maybe it is related to a Triffid.
Our Euphorbia mellifera is a prolific seeder too. I find this quite helpful as it’s a) relatively desirable and b) can get a bit out of shape if not in full sun, so the seedlings can be relocated somewhere more appropriate.
Love it!