Euphorbia myrsinites (Myrtle Spurge)

The enormous Euphorbia genus comes from anything that looks like an Oleander to what looks for all the world like a Cactus. This hardy, fleshy ground cover comes somewhere in between. Fleshy leaves, very glaucous (bluey-grey), ground covering but with those familiarly weird Euphorbia flowers like yellow - green Shrek's ears. See the pictures - they're impossible to describe.

Like all the Euphorbias, the fleshy sap can be irritating on tender bits of skin so keep your sleeves rolled down when tidying and weeding amongst them. This plant is native to south-east Europe and Asia Minor (Turkey mostly)

They're generally easy and very satisfying in the right place as there's nothing else quite like them. They like plenty of sun and pretty good drainage and not great in a pot - they're too vigorous for that.

Propagated by cuttings.

N.B. When clipping several plants with the same tool, have a bucket containing a 5% bleach solution and swish your blades around for 30 seconds between plants to sterilise them. This will help avoid the chance of cross contamination of disease.

As with all woody plants, plant high, exposing as much of the taper at the base of the trunk as possible. Allowing soil to accumulate round the base of a tree can be fatal. Keep very well watered when first planted.