Mercurialis perennis

RHS Plant Profile
dog's mercury
dog's mercury visionspictures.com

Other common names

adder's meat, Kentish balsam, bresych y cŵn

Herbaceous Perennial

An herbaceous perennial with an upright, unbranched growth habit, reaching up to 40cm tall. It spreads vigorously through a creeping network of rhizomes, forming dense carpets on woodland floors. Its fresh-green, oval to spear-shaped leaves, up to 8cm long, have serrated edges and grow in opposite pairs along the stem. Male plants produce small, pale greenish-yellow flowers on slender spikes, while female plants bear less conspicuous flowers at the leaf junctions, blooming from February to April

Position

Full shade, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Size

Time to Maturity
1–2 years

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full shade Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Euphorbiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
Yes
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Matforming
Potentially harmful
Pets: Harmful if eaten. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Europe, N Africa, SW Asia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Thrives in moist, shady gardens, woodlands and hedgerows

Propagation

Self-seeds freely

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Wildlife gardens

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free