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Euphorbiaceae, the spurge family, are herbs, but some, especially ones found in the tropics, are shrubs or trees. Some are succulent and resemble cacti, such as the crown of thorns. This family, with it many species, is found throughout the world, but occurs mainly in the tropics.

Euphorbia

Spurge

Euphorbia 'Ascot Rainbow'

Mediterranean Spurge

Euphorbia 'Characias'

Euphorbia Characias

Native to the Balkans, the Mediterranean spurge or Albanian spurge, is a species of flowering plant in the Euphorbiaceae family typical of the Mediterranean vegetation. It is an upright, compact statuesque evergreen sub-shrub with year-round interest, growing to 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) tall and wide. Mediterranean Spurge displays months of chartreuse flowers.

Flame of Jamaica

Euphorbia punicea

Flame of Jamaica (Euphorbia punicea)

Crown of Thorns

Euphorbia milii

Crown of thorns, Euphorbia milii

Euphorbia milii, the crown of thorns, is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family, native to Madagascar.

Crown of thorns, Euphorbia milii

Poinsettia

Euphorbia pulcherrima

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Manihot

The

Cassava or Tapioca Plant

Manihot esculenta

As you see the sun setting, the tree trunks absorb and reflect the soft rays. The Tapioca 'Variegata' (Manihot esculenta) is perfectly situated to delight the eyes and pull your attention to the yellow reeds sitting at their base. Green carpet, then a dark purple planting delineates the border or edge to frame the bed. Manihot esculenta is considered a native to Brazil and Paraguay and has been cultivated and hybridized as a food plant, but this ornamental variegated plant adds serpentine lines in the mass plantings.

Tapioca 'Variegata' (Manihot esculenta)
Yellow Reeds, Chihuly Glass Exhibit
Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, 2012

Tapioca 'Variegata' (Manihot esculenta)

Yellow Reeds, Chihuly Glass Exhibit

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, 2012

Tapioca 'Variegata' (Manihot esculenta)

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, 2012

Manihot Esculenta Botanical Print.

Manihot esculenta Crantz [as Jatropha manihot L.]
M.E. Descourtilz, Flore médicale des Antilles, vol. 3: t. 176 (1827)
[J.T. Descourtilz]Source: Botanicus, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis

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Croton

Croton

Codiaeum variegatum

Croton 'Mammy' (Codiaeum variegatum 'Mammy')

Bibliography_____________________________________

Burger, William, and Michael Huft. 'euphorbiaceae'. Chicago Ill: Field Museum of Natural History, 1995. Print.
Euphorbiaceae. Berlin: Cramer, 1997. Print.
Klucking, Edward P. Euphorbiaceae. Berlin: J. Cramer, 1997. Print.
Smith, Alan R, and Alan R. Smith. Euphorbiaceae: 2. Rotterdam: Balkema, 1988. Print.
Smith, A R, and Susan Carter. Euphorbiaceae. Published on behalf of the East African governments by Balkema, 1988. Print.
Wheeler, Louis C. Euphorbiaceae. , n.d.. Print.

Grassroots Horticulture

2021

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The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden

Desert-Willow Tree (Chilopsis linearis)

Texas Native

The plant combinations that the horticulturists selected were worth the trip. The deep purples, especially in the evening, created negative spaces and added textures that gave the garden beds depth and dramatic interest.

Purple Elephant Ears, Coleus, Gomphrena

Purple Elephant Ear and
Gomphrena

A row of weeping blue cedar and variegated liriope line the entrance.

Amidst the Shade

Silver and Blue: Blue Marlins and the Silver Trunk of Crape Myrtle
Shade Loving Plants (Mahonia)

Coleus, Purple Leaf Sweet Potato

American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) Texas Native

The Tapioca Plant 'Variegata' (Manihot esculenta)

As you see the sun setting the tree trunks absorb and reflect the soft rays. The Tapioca Plant 'Variegata' (Manihot esculenta) is perfectly situated to delight the eyes and pull your attention to the yellow reeds sitting at their base. Green carpet then dark purple delineates the border or edge to frame the bed. Manihot esculenta is considered a native of Brazil and Paraguay and has been cultivated and hybridized as a food plant but this variegated plant ads serpentine lines in the mass plantings.

Yellow Reeds, Chihuly Glass Exhibit
The Tapioca Plant 'Variegata' (Manihot esculenta)