Forum home Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Plant ID if possible

Nic18Nic18 Posts: 4

Good morning all. I'm new to the forums and was hoping someone would be able to ID the plant/bush I have growing in the garden at my new house. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.image

Posts

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    wow, what a specimen image

    Euphorbia mellifera

    Good morning Nic, welcome to the forum



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Nic18Nic18 Posts: 4

    2 min response, awesome nutcutlet! Thank you. Just did a Google search and see it's native to Madeira and the Canary Island's. I have 2 of these growing as showing in the photo either side of steps which lead to my lower garden. They have formed an archway going over the steps. There are also 3 others growing in the lower garden, 1 of which is similar size and 2 smaller ones. Are they a plant which can be bought in the UK or will they have likely been starting from seeds from someone bringing them home from a holiday possibly? Thanks again for your help. 

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    The seeds are readily available, germinate and grow quickly and survive OK in some parts of the UK until a really hard winter comes along. I had one for about 8 years, not as as impressive as yours. -14C a few winters ago finished it off. With hindsight I wonder if it might have regrown from the base had I not dug it upimage

    I've now grown another, 2 years from seed, 3 flower heads

    Where are you?



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Nic18Nic18 Posts: 4

    Oh I see, I've never seen anything like it before. Although I'm only an amateur gardener ? I'm in Cornwall so not always as cold in winter as further up the country. Do you have any tips on getting them to bush out lower down the plant rather than just letting them grow taller? There are smaller plants growing which I know will fill the gaps out lower when they grow. Didn't know if cutting lower branches would start new shoots as with other plants? 

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    I think they branch out on their own from the bottom. If they haven't, it may be that there's been competition at the base.

    Watch the sap if you do cut them, best not on the skin.



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Nic18Nic18 Posts: 4

    Ok I will have a look and watch the sap ? Thank you very much for your help. 

Sign In or Register to comment.