Thanks, I'll use caution, then and see how I react without gloves.

I don't have a problem with Latex, either, Karen. My daughter is a dentist, and she has a horrible reaction to it, so she wears some sort of liners in the gloves.

The white sap in euphorbia is the base of latex products.

Most medical environments have, I think, changed from latex gloves to nitrile. Prevents exposure for both worker bees and patients.

Karen

That may be what she uses, then.

I didn't know that about euphorbias. Thank you!

Be very careful and wash your hands after cutting Euphorbias. If it gets in your eyes it can burn them. I also keep them away from any pets because of this reason.

That's exactly right, Julia.

You would be surprised at what is in this family of plants. Poinsettia is a Euphorbia.

Yes, they bleed white, too.

Karen

Well.... this is good to know.

I can testify that the sap is an irritant. Not bad but I usually feel it pretty quickly. A rinse off and no problems.

Very informative! Thanks all!

I thought of another- Euphorbia marginata, Snow on the Mountain.

Karen

Good to know! Thats a surprise for me.

Polly, happy that everyone jumped in and gave you good information. That sap is nothing to fool around with. We don't have any problems with rash or irritation with skin contact but Rick got into some serious trouble one year after doing some pruning of the Euphorbias at the nursery. He didn't realize he still had some on his hands and rubbed his eyes!!! It was so bad it almost required a trip to the Emergency Room! He suffered for three days with swelling, burning, etc. - learned his lesson the hard way!

Oh!! my goodness, the poor man. I'm so sorry to hear that.

Cool thread!
I love Euphorbias but I haven't got many though.
I only had my luck with E. marginata- total disaster... a short season of "looking good" following with a whole spring of removing seedlings. NEVER AGAIN. It spread everywhere. Good thing I was right on it, while the seedlings were small.
E. lathyris is the other one. I prefer it. But it's kinda short lived!
Sometimes I see some Euphorbia in the woods with reddish leaves but I haven't seen a good-looking specimen... so I never bothered with it!

Does anyone know if Ascot Rainbow has a tendency to revert or sport? Some recent pics.

I like the shape and color of that plant.
Here is the only euphorbia I have.
Bonfire
July color

August with Royal Purple sedum and Ruby Giant echies

In May with Red Husker it's a great yellow green.

I love the shape of the euphorbia, did you say the name is 'Bonfire'? Is it hard to grow, will it put up with any heat like here in Va?

It seems to be indistructable.We had a long dry hot summer and its doing great.It does like a long day os sun.The 2 I have in a garden with not as much sun are spindly.

Amazing how it changes in looks over the summer. I love te July smokey color.