Mediterranean spurge

E. characias is an evergreen perennial to 1.5m, with vertical or arching stems arising from a single crown. Stems are biennial, leafy throughout at first, then bare, almost woody at the base, densely leafy above, carrying the flower heads in the second year. Leaves are lanceolate, blue-green, rather downy to 15cm long. Flowers are numerous, borne in large, terminal, cylindrical heads in early spring. Petal-like bracts surrounding the tiny flowers are bright yellow-green. May be a short-lived perennial, but often self-seeds