Euphorbia wallichii - Spurge

Euphorbia wallichii is a herbaceous perennial forming a tall upright tuft, often confused with E. cornigera. Above its evergreen to semi-evergreen foliage, green edged with purple and marked in the center by a pale yellow vein, it offers a plentiful summer flowering of bright yellow bracts, very graceful. The flowers hold well in a vase. It is a beautiful plant, with exotic charm, for perennial borders or pots. In ordinary soil, in the sun or partial shade.

Euphorbia wallichii belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family. The west and center of the Himalayas are the cradles of this large herbaceous perennial. It has an upright tufted habit, with stems reaching 80 cm (32in) in height and spreading to 60 cm (24in) on the ground. Flowering occurs in June-July. Inflorescences in cymes of 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6in) in diameter, composed of naked bracts (without petals), rise above the foliage. The "flowers" consist of a golden yellow cyathium (a single female flower in the center of the inflorescence, surrounded by several male flowers, each reduced to a stamen) and yellow involucres. The combination of yellows is very bright. The foliage is evergreen to semi-evergreen depending on the climate. It is composed of linear to elliptical-oblong leaves, dark green, tinged with purple on the edges and undersides, measuring 6 to 11 cm (2 to 4in) in length. They have a clear vein in the center of the lamina. Like all euphorbias, this plant produces a sticky and toxic latex when broken. This plant can cause skin irritations (sap) and is toxic if ingested (all parts of the plant).

Euphorbia wallichii is perfectly suited to exotic gardens or rock gardens. Its uniqueness will blend well with yellow, orange, or red kniphofias, phormiums, the blue flowering of forget-me-nots, the large leaves of tetrapanax, the orange Assam ginger lily (Hedychium assam orange), and yuccas. It has a majestic silhouette that can be placed at the turn of a path. Equally at home in modern gardens as in a rural atmosphere, it blends with everything, enhancing any color with its acidic inflorescences. To make its flowering even brighter, simply associate it with the purple of irises, alliums, or large-flowered clematis. The duo with grasses is particularly successful. It can be used to create soft and sinuous mass effects, structure borders, oppose the colors and shapes of foliage.