Spurge
Spurge: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
Spurges belong to the genus Euphorbia, in the Euphorbiaceae family. This large group includes annuals, biennials, herbaceous perennials, shrubs and succulent forms. Their distribution extends far beyond South Africa. The name spurge therefore does not describe one perennial plant, one origin or identical behaviour in every garden.Shape varies greatly. Some species make leafy clumps, others form carpets or upright stems. Succulent forms have fleshy axes that can resemble cacti, sometimes with spines, but belong to a different family. Foliage may be evergreen or disappear during a resting period. Colours range from green to blue-green, with purple or variegated selections.The flowering structures are unusual. Very small flowers gather in a cup called a cyathium, often accompanied by glands and bracts. These modified leaves contribute much of the colour while the flowers themselves remain modest. Yellow and bright green are familiar in several garden spurges. Other groups offer red, pink or white…
