Euphorbia characias Humpty Dumpty - Spurge

Of small size, the Euphorbia characias Humpty Dumpty has a bushy and compact habit, with splendid evergreen foliage in blue-green with silver reflections. Very floriferous, it is adorned from April to May with a dense mass of flowers with green-yellow bracts. A striking contrast that will give the garden a Mediterranean touch!

The Euphorbia characias, commonly called Mediterranean spurge or garrigue spurge, belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family. It is native to Mediterranean regions, from Portugal and western Morocco to Turkey.

This Euphorbia characias 'Humpty Dumpty' is a perennial shrub with a woody base, forming a bushy, upright, and compact clump. This variety of Euphorbia characias is small in size, measuring 60 cm (24in) in height and width. It has beautiful evergreen foliage composed of narrow linear leaves in an incredible intense blue-green colour with metallic reflections. From March to May, it offers a very long flowering period with pale yellow-green bracts, beautifully contrasting with the bluish-green colour of the foliage.

Euphorbia characias forms undershrubs with a very exotic appearance, bringing a touch of the Mediterranean to the garden. Highly decorative with its bluish-green foliage and lime-yellow flowering, this Euphorbia 'Humpty Dumpty' is perfectly suited for small gardens due to its small size. It is also well adapted to container cultivation on a terrace or balcony. However, it will also have a beautiful effect when integrated into sunny borders or used as a standalone plant in a rock garden. It will be the perfect companion for shrubs and Mediterranean plants, grasses, and spring bulbs. It thrives in well-drained and sunny soil. For container cultivation, it is advisable to place a thick layer of drainage material, such as clay pellets or gravel, at the bottom of the pot and use light and fertile soil. It is recommended to elevate the pot in winter by placing it on "feet" to promote drainage. The beautiful stems of this spurge can be cut to create stunning colourful bouquets.

Euphorbias contain a white sap called latex, which is highly toxic if ingested and irritating to the skin. Therefore, it is advisable to use gloves, especially when cutting the faded stems.