Here is another reminder that my Winter Walk-Off 2012 is going on until Monday the 19th. All bloggers are welcome to join in.
March 9, 2012
Madwoman's Milk
Last March I became infatuated with an acid green weed growing in the cornfield adjacent to my parent's place. I dug a few clumps and planted some in my mom's garden and some in my own. I knew it was some sort of Euphorbia, but was unsure as to the exact species. Fellow blogger Entangled suggested it may be Eurphorbia helioscopia (Sun Spurge, Madwoman's Milk), and I am now pretty sure that identification is correct. This species is a winter-blooming annual native to Europe, North Africa and Asia, and is apparently now quite at home here as well. Further reading on this plant told that although it is considered poisonous and a carcinogen, its extract is used medicinally and is easily found for sale on the web. My clump had whithered by late April of last year, and I thought that was likely the last I would see of it. This week I noticed about a dozen separate plants coming up in the hell-strip, not far from where my clump was planted. So it looks as if I have introduced this weed to my neighborhood. I am sorry neighbors!
Here is another reminder that my Winter Walk-Off 2012 is going on until Monday the 19th. All bloggers are welcome to join in.
Here is another reminder that my Winter Walk-Off 2012 is going on until Monday the 19th. All bloggers are welcome to join in.
So your label says Lovely weeds, are you happy to see this Euphorbia return in numbers? There are some really pretty Euphorbia that I wouldn't mind in my garden, especially in the drier areas.
ReplyDeleteLes,
ReplyDeleteSure can see why it grabbed you like that. I believe we have some of this in the garden, I was clueless to what it was. hate the word verification here.
Oh dear. I fell under the spell of another spurge, Euphorbia cyparissias, with its gorgeous lime greens. I was sorry. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteIt's a looker for sure, are you keeping it then?
ReplyDeleteThose spurges can be a real nuisance. Sounds like you can't even eat this one!
ReplyDeleteHate it when that happens Les! I will be posting two walk off posts next week and have linked to you. But I cheated-in the 10+ years I've lived in my house I have never ever taken a walk around the neighborhood. I did once walk home from a strawberry patch though. I'd be scared to walk around here with a camera-we are talking rural TN! So I hope that is fine-I did Clarksville Base as usual.
ReplyDeleteHere in the foothills of Colorado we have a similar species, myrtle or donkeytail spurge (E. myrsinites), that is so invasive it is now illegal to have. Yet people down in Denver continue to admire and plant it.
ReplyDeleteResist the spurge!
Pam in CO
Here in Colorado (foothills above Denver), we have a similiar species, myrtle or donkeytail spurge. Beautiful, yes, but so invasive it is now illegal to have it. Yet folks in Denver continue to plant it.
ReplyDeleteResist the spurge!
Pam in CO
We have Euphorbia cyathophora growing in waste areas (between paving & walls, etc). A little Poinsettia-like. Don't know this one.
ReplyDeleteJanet,
ReplyDeleteI am happy it has returned, especially knowing that it is only an annual.
Randy,
I am trying to end the verification. I am so frustrated with blogger right now, I am considering switching to wordpress.
Annie,
I love the lime greens and really seek plants out that have it.
Loree,
I am keeping it.
LR,
I would definately avoid eating this one. Several of the sites that mentioned it said how irritating it was to soft tissue.
Tina,
My rules are very flexible and a walk in town will be fine.
Pamit,
We see that here also, but it is not reliably hardy, perhaps it is too wet here.
hwylo,
The flowers on mine look a lot like E. cyathophora, but the foliage is much different.
Les
You never know what might be a thug in your garden. If I it's invasive, I won't plant it. But if I don't know what it is and a neighbor offers, I usually can't resist giving it a try. What's life without risk?
ReplyDeleteIt appeared for the first time this spring in my garden, as well, and the early color is definitely welcome. It suits my garden to be growing "Madwoman's Milk," so it'd definitely staying for a while!
ReplyDeleteSome Euphorbias can be a bit of a nuisance, but if you like it, it's probably worth weeding out the unruly ones that pop up now and again :-)
ReplyDeleteWe too have a similar species. The green is a lovely color, but I don't think I would welcome it in my garden.
ReplyDeleteJason,
ReplyDeleteI am all about risk, at least in the garden.
Tim,
I really like the color too, and at least with this weed, it will be gone in a month or so.
Scott,
Since mine came up in turf that is technically the city's, they will stay.
Donna,
If they ever get to be a nuisance, I will just pull them.
Les
Hi Les, I bet your neighbours love you! I can sympathize though. I often admire weeds like Goldenrod and Queen's Anne's Lace and wish they weren't so darn aggressive. This year I may try a tamed form of goldenrod in the front garden. I haven't forgotten the winter walk-off challenge.Hopefully, I'll get my post finished this weekend.
ReplyDeleteIf I dug something up and planted it in my wife's garden I would probably get a visit by the law enforcement community because it would either be that illegal weed or a protected species. Of course, if it was the illegal sort it would die before I made parole and got to sample any because I am notorious from my black thumb.....and not just because I'm a retired grease monkey!
ReplyDelete