Alternative to euphorbia?

Hello!

I had a planting plan done some time ago, and in one corner of the plan behind a tree Euphorbia Griffithi Fireglow has been recommended.

I hear these are poisonous though? I have a baby and I don't want poisonous plants in there.

Any suggestions on what i can have instead? The soil is neautral. Its clay soil with a layer of top soil. Its partial shade and south east facing.

Natalie

 

There are lots of common garden plants that are more poisonous that that.

The main risk from euphorbia is nasty skin reactions to the milky sap that leaks out when they are wounded. But even that doesn't affect everyone. My mate weeded his garden and came out with sunburn like rashes all over his hands and forearms, but I tested the same stuff on myself (in the name of science rather than masochism) and nothing at all happened.

Why don't you chuck in some nasturtium? Its pretty, low maintenance, totally edible, yet tastes horrible to young taste buds so after a few taste tests, most kids I imagine wont bother to go taste testing much else out there. Certainly seemed to work for my young son, although I did once catch him eating a poinsettia when he was 3.

 

Many, many plants are poisonous. Apple pips contain cyanide ... but you have to eat a huge amount for them to be fatal. Eating even the most poisonous plants is very rarely fatal, and most plants that are poisonous taste foul so that anyone eating them by accident is likely to spit them out. I understand your concern, and I was a protective parent too when my children were young and growing up, but of course mankind has survived over the millennia

Best policy IMHO is education: I remember my Mother telling me to wash my hands after we picked Aconites in the Spring. Do please keep in mind that one's children are at similar risk from plants when they are not in your garden - visiting friends houses, out in the park, etc.

I'm biased though as I think that Euphorbia Griffithi Fireglow, and E. wulfenii , are lovely plants

 

Perhaps Heucheras would be a good substitute?

 

Not sure why anyone would want an alternative to euphoria, I would certainly like a lot more of it.

We were brought up with a garden stuffed with highly poisonous monkshood and it didn't do us any harm. Most gardens have plants which are toxic to some degree, how often do were hear of small children coming to harm from them? Never, not even in the Daily Mail.

The main danger is from when your baby is mobile up to the age when they can be taught not to eat or touch certain plants - maybe around 3? Perhaps the euphorbias could have a light cane fence around them during that time? If they are in a corner behind a tree it's perhaps unlikely that a small child would roam that far and you may not leave them to play alone in the garden anyway.

A substitute would need to be around 18" to 2' high and look good from April through to June, as that is what that particular euphorbia does. Some aquilegias or larger hardy geraniums might do the job. Some euphorbias start to look very seedy after mid-summer so I general cut them down then anyway.

I have seen people with skin blisters, possibly after contact with euphorbia sap, and also had a severe eye problem myself which I suspect was the result of the same. I just take a bit more care with the stuff now.

 

Rather low perhaps? Euphorb's will be knee high I expect?

 

Nandina domestica 'Firepower' would have been better, but that's toxic too! Dwarf berberis have good colour, but are spiny. Heucheras may be low, but they're inoffensive, have excellently-coloured leaves, are more or less evergreen in a sheltered spot, don't mind dry shade....it all depends on Natalie's priorities, doesn't it?

 

Heh heh. Inoffensive, indeed. Damning with faint praise! Don't tell *Dim*, wonder what he's doing now?

When flowering some heucheras might get almost nearly knee high.

 

And the balance of the planting plan?

I'm thinking that the choice of height / season etc. behind the tree is probably (neigh "hopefully" if the designer was any good ) balanced by other plants in the plan. Might be important to see & consider the rest of the plan in making a suggestion?

 

Hello!

I suppose really thinking on it what puts me off is this sap that can irritate. Not just because of baby as it's a front garden so she won't be alone in it, but because I'm rather clumsy and will no doubt rub it all over myself and my husband refuses to wear gloves. I know it's a pretty plant but I'm not so bothered about having it in the scheme that I want sore eyes or skin.

On the plan it's been placed in the corner (5ft fence either side) just behind a malus john downie which has hellebore under planting. To the left delphinium has been suggested and to the right there's a peonie which naturally planted itself there and the designer left on plan, then foxgloves and further round buxus and heauchara.

I know some of these are poisonous to eat but they don't have the sap? It's the sap I don't like the thought of.

Maybe I could put a climbing rose there? Not sure if they like those conditions though. I really like Camilla's too but not on plan.

X

 

Hi Natalie, I agree with you that irritant sap is far more of a risk than toxic leaves or flowers! Both euphorbia and blue rue can cause really nasty burns after the merest contact with bare skin, especially in sunny weather. If you want a climbing rose, then Zephirine Drouhin is genuinely thornless, scented, bright pink but needs lots of TLC to do well. If you still want something free-standing and red, then look up Nandina domestica 'Firepower' or Photinia...there are some dwarf versions of that available nowadays with the pretty red new growth and no drawbacks that I can think of

 

I love heucheras! Grow some from seed every year from the 'metallic' range
What's with 'Dim'??? Is he a fan too?

 

I understand your concerns. Euphorbia doesn't release its sap willy-nilly If you break a stem off then it will bleed a milk-like substance, but it oozes out slowly rather than spurting out ... so you may find no problem with the plant - even if weeding without gloves etc. Care is needed though. I don't know if you can get skin irritation just by touching it (i.e. without coming into contact directly with the sap). I never wear gloves, and must have worked in and amongst the Euphorbias here over the years and have never had a problem. However, if I was pulling it up / cutting it down, then I would take extra care.

Re: Camelia - that needs an Acid soil (do people have Rhododendrons and Azaleas in gardens nearby?), and not to be on the East side of the house / a fence (morning sun in Winter, after frost, will wreck the flower buds)

 

I've found them rewarding too. Grown plenty of ones that we love from seed - cheap-as-chips compared to the fancy varieties, and they put on a good show, albeit not as show-y

He's a Heuchera fan. But now banned from this forum.