Euphorbias are at their best right now, particularly an old favourite, finds GINA PARKINSON

EUPHORBIAS are reaching their peak of perfection as they enjoy the mild and damp spring we have had this year. These majestic plants are a dramatic sight in the early garden, the lime green of their flowers combining with daffodils for a bright splash of sunshine in a corner.

Euphorbias keep flowering well past daffodils. As the garden moves into April and then May, they take on new partners, contrasting beautifully with red and orange tulips and then, my favourite, with the lovely lilac blue of forget-me-nots.

The euphorbia family is quite extensive and although the majority of the members like to be in a sunny spot in well-drained soil, some prefer moister conditions and others will thrive in semi-shaded woodland.

Euphorbia characias ‘Portuguese Velvet’ is among those that need a dry and sunny spot. It is slightly tender and will struggle in a cold winter in cold and wet soil, but given a sheltered spot and free draining soil it will almost certainly come through.

It is a very attractive plant with velvet soft grey green foliage topped with red eyed green flowers in spring. I have found it blooms later than some of the other euphorbias, making it a good specimen for extending the flowering period.

While our ‘Portuguese Velvet’ is still waiting to flower, another family member, Euphorbia characias ‘Humpty Dumpty’ is covered in pale green flowers attracting as the picture shows a number of ladybirds.

‘Humpty Dumpty’ is such a good plant. We had it in our last garden and it was one of the first things to be bought for our present patch. Now into its third spring, Mr Dumpty is getting to its mature size of 60cm wide and 60cm tall which is similar to that of ‘Portuguese Velvet’. They make a good display grown together although they have pushed out others originally planted in this group.

Pale variegated ‘Silver Swan’ made it through a couple of winters but never put on much growth and has now completely disappeared as has dark leaved ‘Blackbird’. This is a shame as the contrast in leaf colour would have been very attractive. However, the bright Euphorbia x martini ‘Ascot Rainbow’ is gathering strength against its beefy neighbours and is beginning to poke through to find a space of its own.

This is smaller growing – reaching about 45cm tall – but should make a decent size clump of around 60cm. The blue-green foliage is edged with yellow and takes on a pink tinge especially during winter.

Given the correct conditions Euphorbias need little care after planting. They will take a season to establish but once they get into their growing routine they will just need cutting back after flowering each spring. This needs to be done with care as the milky sap is very irritating so skin needs to be covered up. Just the flowered stems are taken out, the plant will already be producing new leafy stems. Leave these in situ as they will carry next year’s flowers.

 

Garden talk

VANESSA COOK from Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens and Nursery will give an illustrated talk entitled ‘Foliage better then Flowers?’. Organised by Askham Bryan College Gardening Club the talk will be held on Tuesday April 15th in the Conference Hall at Askham Bryan College YO23 3FR. It will begin at 7.30pm and there is plenty of nearby free parking.

It is almost 40 years since Vanessa and her husband bought The Lodge, a neglected farm with three acres of rough land. Since then she has created a beautiful series of gardens planted with a wide range of trees, shrubs, climbers and perennials. The gardens are open to visitors and there are a number of workshops run throughout the year.

Tickets to the talk are free to Askham Bryan College Gardening Club members and £5 at the door for visitors.

 

National Gardening Week.

AS PART of National Gardening Week, which runs from April 14 – April 20, there will be a Gardener’s Q&A morning at Stillingfleet Lodge Nursery in Stillingfleet. The session is free and will be held from 10am-noon on Wednesday. Nursery owner Vanessa Cook and fruit and vegetable expert Tony Chalcraft will be on hand to answer any gardening questions. The garden will also be open as will the café and nursery.

 

Open gardens

Tomorrow

In aid of the National Gardens Scheme

Clifton Castle, Ripon, HG4 4AB, two miles north of Masham on the Newton-le-Willows and Richmond road. Grounds with views, river walks, woodland pleasure grounds with bridges and follies, cascades, wild-flower meadow and C19 kitchen garden. There are gravel paths and steep slopes to the river. Open 2pm-5pm, admission £4.

Holly Croft, 38 Station Road, Scalby, YO13 0QA, off the A171 from Scarborough to Whitby. Sloping garden leading down to Scalby Beck with a lawned formal area, pond, clipped box, mixed borders, fruit and vegetable areas, Edwardian potting shed and a gate and steps leading steeply down through woodland to the river. Open 2pm-5pm, admission £3.

Saturday, April 19

Ellerker House, Everingham, YO42 4JA, 15 miles south east of York. Five-acre garden on sandy soil with spring bulbs, mature trees, lawn and grass area, woodland walk around the lake, rose archway, herbaceous borders and many seating areas with views of the garden. There will also be a rare plant fair with a number of different stall holders and a treasure hunt for children. Open 12pm-5pm, admission £4.

 

Gardening TV and Radio.

Tomorrow, 8am, BBC Radio Humberside, The Great Outdoors. With Blair Jacobs and Doug Stewart.

9am, BBC Radio York, Anna Wallace. Out and about in North Yorkshire with Anna Wallace standing in for Julia Lewis.

9am, BBC Radio Leeds, Tim Crowther and Joe Maiden.

9am, BBC2, Gardeners’ World. Carol Klein visits Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens in Dorset.

9.30am, BBC2, The Beechgrove Garden. Featuring an investigation into ready-made composts.

2pm, BBC R4, Gardeners’ Question Time. Anne Swithinbank, Christine Walkden and Bob Flowerdew advise gardeners from Chard in Somerset. With chairman Peter Gibbs.

Tuesday

8pm, BBC2, The Big Allotment Challenge. Nine pairs of allotmenteers are put to the test in a series of elimination tests over the next six weeks. This week they must grow and present three matching radishes and seven perfect sweet-pea stems then make jam and curd.

9pm, BBC4, British Gardens in Time. The gardens of Stowe in Buckinghamshire which launched the career of Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown are featured this week.

Thursday

9am, BBC4, Deep, Down and Dirty: the Science of Soil. Chris Beardshaw looks at soil, where it comes from and what it is made of using specialist microphotography to reveal its intricate diversity.

Friday

8.30pm, BBC2, Gardeners’ World. Monty Don suggestss climbers for shady spots and Carol Klein returns to advise first-time gardeners Dan and Dominique.