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Hardy Euphorbias - Part 2 - Page 4

© Marge Talt

My plant is just thinking about blooming - they are mid-summer bloomers, continuing the euphorb show in the garden. Now that I know where it is, I'm watching this process with interest, since it seems somewhat different from most of the other species I have. The "flowers" seem to be starting as a rolled quill at the tips of the stems...fascinating. According to references, the central head will be surrounded by two or three side branches that will carry fresh flowers right into the autumn; at the same time that the central heads are producing blue-green seed pods.

I May Live To Rue The Day!

E. cyparissias does not have a reputation for good behavior in the border. Supposedly, this European native makes a good groundcover for a sunny bank, but spreads viciously. I grew mine from seed a couple of years ago, so they've only been in my sandbed for the two seasons it's existed.

If it's as vicious as reputed, it sure is deceiving in appearance. A more delicate plant you'd hardly ever see. I wasn't certain it was even going to survive. This year, it's gained strength and worked its slender stems up through the neighboring plants to its full height of a foot (30.48 cm) or so. I rather like the contrast with the large, fuzzy leaves of Salvia officinalis 'Berggarten', as well as the color contrast with the dark, shiny leaves of Teucrium chamaedrys (Wall Germander).

Since I had three or four plants to start with, I really haven't seen any signs of spreading...yet. Time will tell. I had read that it was a spreader and hard to eradicate once established, so I decided to put it in this bed because it is quite contained. I also reasoned that, if I really wanted to get rid of it someday, it would be easier to get out of sand than clay.

This one supposedly needs full sun; mine gets about four hours of direct sun, but this bed is in the open, which probably helps. It's another of the hardy ones, rated from USDA zones 3 to 9.

It's just started blooming for me, rather delicate yellow flower heads at the tips of the stems. I have read that they mature to a red color. I'm hoping they do.

Although I haven't seen signs of rampancy, if this one appeals to you, do think about where you want to put it...just in case.

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