Mediterranean Spurge Euphorbia characias 'Portuguese Velvet'

Names

• Family

  Euphorbiaceae

• Synonyms

  Mediterranean Spurge, Albanian Spurge, Portuguese Velvet

• Common names

  Euphorbia characias

Toxicity

• To humans

  Mediterranean Spurge, like all Euphorbias, contains a milky sap known as latex that is toxic to humans. This sap is a skin irritant and can cause a rash if it comes in contact with the skin. If the latex gets into the eyes, it can cause serious inflammation and temporary blindness. If ingested, the sap can cause irritation of the mouth, throat, and stomach, leading to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and in severe cases, it can be life-threatening. It is essential to handle Mediterranean Spurge with care and wash your hands thoroughly after handling it to avoid accidental ingestion or contact with mucous membranes.

• To pets

  Mediterranean Spurge is toxic to pets due to the latex it contains, similar to its effects on humans. If a pet chews or ingests any part of the plant, the latex can cause symptoms such as drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, and irritation of the mouth and gastrointestinal tract. In severe cases, ingestion can lead to more serious complications, including difficulty breathing and systemic effects. It is crucial to prevent pets from having access to this plant to avoid any potential poisoning incidents.

Characteristics

• Life cycle

  Perennials

• Foliage type

  Evergreen

• Color of leaves

  Bluish-green

• Flower color

  Yellow-green

• Height

  3-4 feet (90-120 cm)

• Spread

  2-3 feet (60-90 cm)

• Plant type

  Shrub

• Hardiness zones

  8

• Native area

  Mediterranean

General Benefits

• Drought Tolerance: Euphorbia characias 'Portuguese Velvet' is highly drought-resistant, requiring minimal water once established, making it suitable for xeriscaping and arid gardens.
• Easy Maintenance: It is a low maintenance plant, requiring little care beyond occasional pruning to remove spent flowers and maintain shape.
• Architectural Structure: With its upright form and spikey texture, it adds architectural interest to garden designs.
• Long Blooming Season: Produces showy, long-lasting flowers that can bloom from early spring through summer, providing extended visual interest.
• Attracts Pollinators: The flowers attract bees and other pollinators, supporting the local ecosystem.
• Deer Resistant: The plant is not favored by deer, making it a good choice for gardens in areas with deer populations.
• Versatile Landscaping Use: Suitable for borders, rock gardens, coastal gardens, and as a focal point in mixed beds.
• Erosion Control: Its root system can help stabilize slopes and banks, reducing soil erosion.
• Seaside Suitable: The plant is salt-tolerant and can thrive in coastal conditions.
• Non-Invasive: It does not tend to spread aggressively, which reduces the risk of it taking over garden spaces.

Medical Properties

This plant is not used for medical purposes.

Air-purifying Qualities

This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.

Other Uses

• Decorative dried arrangements: The flowering stems of Euphorbia characias can be cut and dried to provide an interesting texture and shape for dried floral arrangements.
• Highlighting garden architecture: Leafy spires of the Euphorbia can add vertical interest to garden designs, especially when framed against walls or other architectural elements.
• Creating garden borders: The dense, bushy growth habit of Euphorbia characias makes it an excellent choice for creating crisp, structured borders along garden beds or pathways.
• Supporting beneficial insects: Euphorbia characias blooms are attractive to pollinators, such as bees, helping to increase the biodiversity of garden ecosystems.
• Accentuating rock gardens: With its drought tolerance and striking appearance, Euphorbia characias is well-suited for adding texture and color to rock gardens.
• Coastal landscaping: Being native to the Mediterranean, Euphorbia characias is salt-tolerant, making it ideal for seaside gardens where salty spray might harm other less hardy plants.
• Photography subjects: The unique form and texture of Euphorbia characias, especially when it's in bloom, can provide interesting subjects for botanical photography.
• Inspiring artists: The striking form, color, and texture variance of Euphorbia characias often serve as inspiration for painting, drawing, and other forms of visual art.
• Ecological education: Euphorbia characias can be used in educational settings to teach about Mediterranean ecosystems and plant adaptability to dry climates.
• Mulching material: When pruned, the stems and leaves of Euphorbia characias can be used as organic mulch, providing soil moisture retention and weed suppression.

Feng Shui

The Mediterranean Spurge is not used in Feng Shui practice.

Zodiac Sign Compitability

The Mediterranean Spurge is not used in astrology practice.

Plant Symbolism

• Resilience: Euphorbia characias 'Portuguese Velvet', commonly known as Mediterranean Spurge, often signifies resilience due to its ability to thrive in harsh, dry environments, symbolizing the capacity to endure and prosper through challenges.
• Protection: The milky sap of Mediterranean Spurge is toxic and can deter animals from eating the plant, which lends it the symbolic meaning of protection against harm and negative influences.
• Healing: Historically, some species of Euphorbia were used for medicinal purposes. This history imparts a symbolic association with healing and relief from physical or emotional pain.
• Persistence: With their persistent growing habit and long lifespan, these plants often represent tenacity and the drive to persist through difficulties.