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One of the prettiest border plants in our region is the fireglow spurge of the Euphorbia family. It is a hardy perennial with outstandingly arresting horizontal leaves and bracts.

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This Fireglow spurge adds unusual colour to local gardens.

While there is a huge and diverse group of plants that fall under the category of Euphorbia, in this column the focus is on the fireglow spurge, which grows in splendour in many neighbourhood gardens in Metro Moncton, as well as at the Kingsbrae Gardens in St. Andrews.

It is strikingly different; you can't help but notice it. It almost has the appearance of a succulent with its smooth leaves and abundant clusters of flowers. The Euphorbia (pronounced you-FOR-bee-uh) griffithii has erect, leafy stems that are toped by large yellow red, orangish coloured clusters of flowers and bracts in early summer.

Once you get it growing in your garden, either from cuttings from a neighbour's plant or direct seeds into the ground, you will find that it can actually be quite aggressive. It spreads itself willingly by means of rhizomatous roots.

The fireglow spurge that is part of this Euphorbia graffithii has red stems of red-tinged leaves topped with orange bracts that glow brightly.

If you want to experiment with this interesting perennial, just prepare some well-drained soil but not necessarily good soil. This plant, while hardy, does not like its roots in soggy soil and it will die on you if you ignore that fact.

Of course, you don't want to handle your own spurge plants without heavy gloves, since its milk sap may cause eczema or dermatitis to especially sensitive gardeners.

The plant is also poisonous and can cause severe gastric distress if eaten not just in humans, but in cats and dogs. It is recommended to wear gardening gloves and a long-sleeved shirt when transplanting or working with spurge plans.

Fertilize your plant so it will grow well, but don't worry if its roots are in gravelly, stony or sandy soil. That's what makes this such a perfect cottage garden addition. Divide your spurge in the early spring and take tip cuttings of stems in the summer, preferably after it has bloomed. Don't forget to wear gloves to protect yourself from its foliage.

What makes the fireglow spurge especially appealing is that orange is an unusual colour in our gardens, and this plant beautifully fills up the board. The spurge is also particularly lovely in autumn when its foliage turns a warm red and yellow.

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For your diary:

July 19 - Using Native Plants in the Garden - More gardeners are discovering how incredible our native flora can be in the garden, both from an ornamental and ecological point of view. This seminar runs from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. It is free but limited to 50 participants, so you must pre-register by calling 506-756-3635.

July 20 - Tansy Lane Herb Farm Summer Festival - Carole Coleman at the Tansy Lane in Albert Mines invites guests to enjoy a relaxing day in the country. Try some yoga, tai-chi, Qigong, have a massage, take a horse-drawn wagon ride up the fields to poetry readings. Enjoy brunch on the verandah. For more information check their website at www.tansylane.com or contact Carole at 734-3006. The farm is located at 490 Albert Mines Road.

July 26 - Please note that the date of the YWCA of Moncton annual garden tour of Metro Moncton's gardens has been changed to July 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (from July 19). The tour supports the work of the YWCA Women's Resource Centre. For more information call the YWCA at 855-4349. Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 the day of the event.