About Euphorbia mellifera Aiton
Euphorbia mellifera, commonly known as Canary spurge or honey spurge, is a flowering plant species in the spurge family Euphorbiaceae. It is native to Madeira and the Canary Islands. This is an evergreen shrub or tree that grows 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) tall and wide, bearing narrow leaves that reach up to 20 centimeters (8 inches) long. In spring, it produces brown flowers with a honey-like scent. Its Latin specific epithet mellifera translates to "producing honey". This species has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Euphorbia × pasteurii is recognized as a hybrid between E. mellifera and E. stygiana. The cultivars 'Phrampton Phatty', 'Roundway Titan' and 'John Phillips' have also each received the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Like all members of the Euphorbia genus, this plant contains a milky-white sap that oozes from cut stems. This sap is a skin irritant and very harmful to the eyes, so gloves should be worn when pruning the plant.
