Euphorbia characias, Euphorbiaceae
A few days ago I wrote about the variegated version of the Mediterranean spurge, an Euphorbia which does particularly well in dry soils prone to drought and with little attention, two abilities developed to thrive in its native habitat and which have gained it attention within the ornamental market.
At Glasgow Botanic Gardens, right after some winter rain and in bloom, this spurge rivaled its variegated counterparts in attractiveness. Looks are not all though, and it’s important to note this species is a really good source of nectar, and one of the few flowering so profusely and early in the year at the gardens, although generally flowering more in spring. In particular, the Mediterranean spurge attracts some species of Diptera and Hymenoptera, with ants playing an important part in seed dispersal.
The link below takes you to a Royal Horticultural Society list of plants beneficial to pollinators, divided by flowering season and month, which can help plan a wildlife friendly garden and attract more of those welcomed visitors to boost your food production.
RHS Perfect for Pollinators plant list
