DIG THE DIVERSITY

Many euphorbias are also known as spurge, but this family of unusual-looking succulents is as diverse as you can get.

The most familiar spurge is Euphorbia characias with its fresh, bluish-green foliage, topped by domes of tiny, limey flowers in spring and summer.

The crown of thorns

(E. Milii) has flower-like bracts in red, white or hot pink in spring that camouflage the thorny stems where birds can hide from predatory cats.

The pre y snowflake

(E. leucocephala) is a small tree that produces fragrant white flowers with showy white bracts from April to July.

The vibrant pencil tree (E. tirucalli) is actually a small shrub and, if you get the red variety, it will be a fiery feature in your winter garden.

The adored poinse ia (E. pulcherrima) may be something you get at Christmas, then toss when the colours fade. But you can put them in your garden to grow into a shrub or small tree.