Giant Weeds in garden

[Toncra]

Hi Toncra Here,

I have just joined "Wild about britain" today, hello to you all.

Need to tell all about a giant weed found in my garden.

"Caper Spurge" it was about 5ft high and about to explode out thousands of seeds.
Keep an eye out for it (even google it)

I can imagine once it spreads could be very difficult to get rid of.

Have many of you found this in your garden? or is it rare?

Regards

Toncra

[Dorts]

Hi Toncra, welcome to WAB.
Caper Spurge - Euphorbia lathyris, a biennial, is a fine 'architectural' garden plant and I would welcome it to any garden. It does, as you say, seed very freely and those seeds will remain fertile in the ground for many years to come. But it is easily controlled by simply pulling up unwanted plants.

It is quite common in gardens, less so in the wild.

The only word of warning is that as with all Euphorbias, the milky sap is an irritant, just be careful not to get it near eyes or mouth, it can be very painful, as I know only too well!
Dorts.

[King Edward]

I have an even gianter (?) one in the greenhouse, growing up through a crack in the floor, plus a few around the garden. I like it - very attractive. It likes disturbed areas, so I don't find it a problem. Compared to really troublesome species, like nettles, brambles, docks, thistles, hogweed, couch grass etc., it barely registers on the scale of problem weeds.

[Toncra]

Hi to "Dorts" and "King Edward"

Very useful replies, you both obviously know your weeds?

Thanks, I think I`ll pull the other two up anyway, wouldn`t want them seeding.

Speak again shortly

Regards

Toncra