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Euphorbia mellifera/other species

>Date: Wed, 14 Jan 1998 19:03:25 -0800
>Sender: owner-medit-plants@ucdavis.edu
>From: laurel@slip.net (Laurel Wellman)
>To: medit-plants@ucdavis.edu
>Subject: Re: Mediterranean Labiates/ how bouta euphorbia?
>       <snip>
> My euphorbia query  is on E. mellifera, which I am starting from seed. If
> anyone in the SF Bay Area has experience with this plant I'd be interested
> to hear about it.
>
> Laurel

Laurel -

I have grown E. mellifera breifly in the past (I do not have it
currently - perhaps you'd like to trade a seedling?).  I found it a
nice plant, sort of a shrub with time.  It has been found to
self-seed around a section of Strybing Arboretum in San Francisco,
though not really invasive.  The deep green leaves with a paler
midrib, densly clothe the stems, handsome all by themselves.  The
clusters of pale yellowish flowers, heavily tinted with maroon on
various parts are quite curious and appealing, though they do not
show well from a distance.  This plant seems tolerant of heavy soils
and some summer drought, this latter point especially when partially
shaded and along the milder coastal sections of our area.  I believe
this species is from the Azores, which might explain its comfort
growing in San Francisco - I'd be interested in trying it here in
the warmer Eastern shore of the SF Bay.

Many people in this area have great interest in Euphorbias, creating
collections of of various obsure species (which are not necessarily
climate appropriate!).  With so many hundreds of species to choose
from, I find it a bit daunting to figure out which might do well
when grown Mediterranean.  I'd also be interested in knowing which
species some of you out there might find worthwhile.  I am
especially keen on finding some of the more succulent types, which
often have very interesting forms and textures.  We have one of the
leading authorities on Euphorbias here in the Bay Area (Dr. Herman
Schwartz, publisher of the Euphorbia Journals) and I hope someday to
view his collection.  But what I am really interested in is seeing
some of these planted out in gardens of my area - does anyone know
of plantings which include unusual species of succulent Euphorbias?

 Sean A. O'Hara                     sean.ohara@ucop.edu
 710 Jean Street                    (510) 987-0577
 Oakland, California 94610-1459     h o r t u l u s   a p t u s
 U.S.A.                             'a garden suited to its purpose'
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