Hardy Euphorbias - Part 2: Re: Euphorbias -- Once a spurge, always a spurge!

» Marge_Talt - Re: Euphorbias -- Once a spurge, always a spurge!

In response to message posted by bindweed:

Hiya Herb,

I think that your salubrious climate will foster weediness amongst those who seed freely more than mine.

I find that I tend to lose the adult plants in hard winters - like our last one, but always find seedlings to replace them, so I don't object to the seeding around...seedlings are easy to remove if not wanted.

In your climate - where I recently discovered that Arum italicum, for Pete's sake, can become a weed, I would expect that you could easily end up with a lot more plants than you wanted!

E. amygdaloides var. robbiae, for example, is v.e.r.y. slowly spreading under a dogwood, where I wish it would cover the ground, but the tops keep getting killed back each winter. Think I've seen maybe one flower head on that one and no seeding - it's spreading underground.

E. cyparissias does have a very bad reputation, but I've got it in my sand bed and actually am not seeing it this spring, so wonder if it survived. Figured since this is a raised bed, I could yank it if it got too rambunctious, which it had not as of last year...but that one does always come with a caution!

I once had E. griffithi 'Fireglow', but allowed it to get shaded out and it is gone - keep thinking about getting it again for the color, but seem to remember it was a rather awkward plant from a shape standpoint...and I don't really have a sunny spot for it where that color would work.

'Polychroma' is one I had once and it only lasted a season - really would like to get it again and see if I can make it stay. E. myrsinites seems only really happy in my gravel drive, where it comes and goes and I enjoy it no end. Have some in that sand bed and the babies I put in last year are fine, but the older plant died over winter...go figure.

E. amygdaloides 'Rubra' - or whatever name it's going under - is one of my very favorites and it seeds around and I let it as it always puts itself in a good spot. Last year, had scads of it in flower and this year, most of the adult plants didn't make it through the winter and those that did had damage, so few flowers, but lots of seedlings so I should be able to keep it going...would hate to lose that one.

Most of the evergreen species are really only hardy in z 7 I think. E. myrsinites is an exception - think it's hardy to z. 3. 'Wulfenii' is rated to z. 8, but survives most winters for me, as does E. characias (rated z 8 also).

Except in the sand bed and a couple of other very well amended spots, all mine have to make do with clay soil. They don't seem to mind it, but my soil drains very well and, you are correct, this is very important to all of the species, except, I think E. palustris, who, I understand can grow in a swamp. Now, that is one I adore. Moved mine in fear and trepidation this spring as it really got way too large for the raised bed it was planted in..it seems to be doing just fine...have never seen a seedling from it, tho'.

You are also absolutely correct about the caustic nature of the sap. I have developed an extreme sensitivity to it - ended up in the emergency room last spring with face red and swollen and huge red, itchy patches all over from the contact dermatitus I developed from not taking the time to get gloves on the day I tied up a large, sprawling E. characias...think that taught me a lesson as I was on meds for a week or more and it took nearly a month to all clear up. So I always advise now that anybody handling these plants wear gloves. It's sort of like poison ivy; you might be able to go for years not contracting it, but then, one day....

Your companion plantings with various euphorbs sound most interesting. Think I need to put one of my E. amygdaloides 'Rubra's over next to Eupatorium 'Chocolate', now...would be a neat combo, I think.

-- posted by Marge_Talt