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Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 11:32 am

I'm not really an expert on garden plants nor am I a member of any Gardening forum but I know a few guys here are pretty clued up on the subject.
Can anyone tell me what this plant is?
It just appeared last summer. It was only a couple of inches high but in the last few weeks has exploded into life and is now about 3 feet high.
My mum thinks it might be Deadly Nightshade, but I'm not too sure. None of the photos I can find on the net seem to be conclusive.
Any ideas?

Leaves are a different shape at the base:

Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 12:16 pm

I agree with your mum, but I no expert. Wink

Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 12:34 pm

It's a euphorbia, though which one I don't know as there are hundreds (well dozens at least)
Something like this one, though it's not quite the same.

Hmm, could be that one, here's another pic

Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 12:51 pm

SOO if you confirm it is a euphorbium take great care removing or cutting it because some varieties are highly poisonous. And no nibbling on the leaves!

Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 12:52 pm

I'd say you're right BB.
After a bit of searching, it looks like Euphorbia lathyris.

I've dug the bastard up and binned it.

edit. I didn't see your edit BB. So we're both in agreement. Wink

Baiting Guru Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 3193

Yes, its a euphorbia alright. We get loads of them in our garden and allotment. Very pretty, with yellow and bright green bracts and flowers over a darker green body, but overwhelms the border and then falls over. In sunny conditions it will exceed five feet in height and almost that in width, then the wind knocks it down. Those heads that have opened and split into two keep repeating that trick several more times. In shade it is more manageable.

Since it is a euphorbia the sap can cause burning, although I've not noticed any myself. (I have been careful to wash my hands.) The Poinsettia is a euphorbia too, so it isn't something to get paranoid over. Having said that, if there is a young child around it may be a good idea to dig it up before it seeds, because the scattered seeds are just the right size to be interesting, and are probably poisonous.

It does look like the Lathyris. Thanks for that; I've not been able to identify it myself.

Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 8:10 pm

Eeek! I've got those! I moved into a new house and these cute little plants started appearing. And now they've turned into triffids. I've been pulling them up by the roots and breaking them up. And then having another sweet/candy to pass the time.

I feel all poisoned now.

Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 8:47 pm

Slightlyoutofit wrote:

Can anyone tell me what this plant is?

Green. Yep, definitely green. And knowing SOOI I'd also venture to say possibly endangered.

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