January 11–24 , 2021
Mount Washington — Plants have engaged me in relationships that they seem to have initiated, like persuasive strangers who encourage and take charge of a new friendship. A rapport is established and often endures from season to season as a fruitful camaraderie.
Of my significant botanical liaisons, the mole plant (Euphorbia lathyris) is my current infatuation. In the spring of 2018, that Euphorbia, which is also known as caper or gopher spurge, drew my attention from where it was perched on a shelf at a local nursery. Strikingly different from other plants, the starter plant’s straightforward geometric form, drawn in deep green lance-shaped leaves with greenish-white midribs, stood out as if I had happened upon an inhabitant of a Jurassic landscape. Its common name, mole plant, cinched the deal, leading me to imagine that, by chemistry or alchemy, its presence would repel rodents from my garden.
Even though it did not deliver on its name, I liked the mole plant so much that, when deep freeze threatened in fall 2018, I dug it up and brought it indoors along with my now usual winter companions — rosemary and lemongrass among other, more obscure garden and culinary curiosities. Just like 2018-2019’s, this winter’s indoor garden community is shown below.
Following the thread from the overwintered mole plant of spring 2018, it was returned to the garden in the spring of 2019 and brought indoors again that fall. Over the winter of 2019–2020, the mole plant flowered and set seed, lots of seed.
When I brought the mother mole plant outdoors this past spring, 2020, I had to quickly capture its seedy top in a bag, to prevent the landscape being overwhelmed with its offspring. As you see in the photograph of my tender plants in their safe haven, there are several maturing Euphorbia lathyris with flower buds, readying for spring 2021.
Resources
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/euphorbia-lathyris/common-name/mole-plant/
Campo de’ Fiori, Sheffield, Mass. Uncommon home and garden shop, open daily 9 a.m.-5 pm. Several euphorbias for indoor and outdoor gardens.
The Botany of Desire with Michael Pollan, short introductions.
