A LATE BLOOMER

April showers bring May flowers, but by August only the late bloomers are still sweating it out in the hot sun with limited rainfall.  One of these late bloomers is Euphorbia marginata (a.k.a “snow-on-the-mountain”).  This plant has white green bracts (modified leaves) and blooms from July to October in overgrazed field and wastelands.  “Wasteland” brings to mind images from the move “Mad Max and the Thunderdome” where the world is barren.  That is extreme.  For the most part, these plants are associated with disturbed areas because they can disperse into them and survive even in dry, clay soils.  The plant is toxic to livestock and is often the only plant blooming in pastures at the end of the season.  Perhaps that is how it got the name “snow-on-the-mountain”.  Not only is the plant toxic to livestock but the milky sap from the stem can cause poison ivy-like skin irritations for some folks.  On the bright side, the flower provides nectar for butterflies and the seeds are eaten by quail, prairie chickens, and mourning doves.  Reportedly, Native Americans made a tea from the plant to increase milk production in nursing mothers.  Zoinks!  What did they do if they were one of the few who were sensitive to the plant?  Because this plant is pretty, is a late bloomer, and can survive crappy conditions it is being used more often in landscaping.  Keep your eyes peeled for it!