Euphorbia humifusa

Euphorbia humifusa grows for one year. It belongs to the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. Its home range spans Moldova and temperate parts of Asia. These include parts of Russia, Central Asia and East Asia. It also grows wild in northern Iran and the Caucasus. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. The RHS gives Euphorbia pseudochamaesyce as another name for this plant.

This small plant grows about 0.7 feet [0.2 metres] tall. It grows on stony ground and sites that people disturb. Plants For A Future also lists it for garden beds. Each plant has both male and female flowers. These flowers grow apart, and insects carry pollen between them. Its seed capsules burst when ripe and spread the seeds. Keep this seed spread in mind when choosing a site.

Grow it in an open site with no shade. It suits sand or loam that drains well. The soil can be mildly acid, neutral or mildly alkaline. It can be dry or moist. This gives some choice of soil and how much to water. No one is sure how well it withstands British cold. Plants For A Future says it now grows wild in Central Europe. This suggests it might grow in Britain, but gives no hardiness rating. Sow seeds in spring where you plan to grow them. At 20°C, seeds take about two to three weeks to sprout.

The sap has latex, which is toxic if swallowed. It can also cause severe skin soreness. It may cause skin to react to light as well. Keep sap out of eyes, cuts and other broken skin. Dried plant parts may still be toxic. Plants For A Future warns against long, repeated contact with sap. It links this contact with a risk of cancer. These risks matter when you handle plants or clear dead growth.

Plants For A Future lists leaves and shoots as edible. It calls cooked young shoots a food of last resort. This does not mean you can ignore the poison warning. The source notes past uses of the whole plant as medicine. These uses aim to increase urine flow, stop bleeding and treat wounds. It notes remedies for jaundice, dysentery and swelling in the gut. Other uses aim to treat snake bites and parasitic worms. These reports of past use do not prove safety. The source lists no other practical uses.