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Wood Spurge

©Paul Lane

Wood spurge

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As its name suggests, Wood spurge is found in woodlands. It is an attractive evergreen that displays cup-shaped, green flowers in clusters and dark green leaves.

Scientific name

Euphorbia amygdaloides

When to see

January to December

Top facts

Stats

Height: up to 80cm
Common.

About

Wood spurge is, as its name suggests, commonly found in woodlands, particularly damp and coppiced woods. The ancestor of our garden varieties of Euphorbia(spurge), its attractive, greeny-yellow flowers can be seen from April to June.

What to look for

The greeny-yellow flowers of Wood spurge have no petals or sepals, but are held in cup-shaped bracts and appear in clusters. The upright stems carry long, narrow leaves, often tinged with red. It is an evergreen.

Where to find

Found mainly in Southern England; scarce elsewhere.

Did you know?

As with other spurges, Wood spurge produces a milky white sap which is toxic; in other parts of the world, these saps have been used to tip poisoned arrows.