|
Euphorbia characias 'Portuguese Velvet' - This succulent perennial/ subshrub has gray-green foliage that is covered with soft velvety hairs. It is smaller in height than the more common Euphorbia characias ssp. wulfenii, growing to only 24-30 inches tall but grows as wide if not even wider. It is attractive year-round and in spring and summer, the flower heads form at the branch tips covering the plant with a chartreuse color.
Plant in full sun to light shade and water sparingly. Like all Euphorbia characias selections this one does an excellent job of seeding itself out, so beware. It is hardy to 0-10 degrees F.
The species, Euphorbia characias is native to Southern Europe, Turkey. The name for the genus is derived from Euphorbus, the Greek physician of King Juba II of Numidia and later of Mauritania. In 12 B.C. King Juba named a cactus-like plant he found in the Atlas Mountains after his physician and later Carl Linnaeus assigned the name Euphorbia to the entire genus. The specific epithet was the Greek name used by Dioscorides for the plant, which was long used medically for the compounds it contains.
The information about Euphorbia characias 'Portuguese Velvet' displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |
