Euphorbia ‘Canyon Gold’ is a delightful, but little-known, Euphorbia characias hybrid, introduced in 1998, by the former Canyon Creek Nursery. The foliage of the 2′ tall clumps take on a lovely purple cast in winter. In late February, the terminal flowers open chartreuse. Well-drained soils, and sun are required for success with this short-lived perennial.
How could you not love a plant that can put on a show like this for months on end during the heat of the summer? So, why is is that so few people grow the amazing Euphorbia corollata? This amazing perennial is native to most every county east of the Mississippi River, even extending it
The Little Euphorbia that Could Read More »
Euphorbia ‘Ascot Rainbow’ is looking quite dazzling in the garden this week, backed up by the silver foliage of Buddleia marrubifolia. The flowers on the euphorbia emerged for us on March 10, and now, nine weeks later still look amazing. The short-lived Euphorbia x martinii needs very good drainage in the garden. As soon as
An Ascot of Rainbows Read More »
A couple of years ago, we were thrilled to acquire seed of Euphorbia ‘Rubicund’ from the Hardy Plant Society seed exchange. That little-known clone is a selection from a cross of Euphorbia myrsinites x E. rigida made by Rhode Island’s Issima Nursery. While the clone doesn’t come true from seed, we love our offspring and
Euphorbia Hanky Panky Read More »
If you’ve driven through the any of the Mediterranean countries in spring, you are undoubtedly familiar with the common Mediterranean spurge, Euphorbia characias (ker-ack-iss). For years, I admired this in virtually every English garden book, but always failed in my attempts to keep it alive in our garden. Years later, it finally hit me what
One of my most lustful plants has been the super cute Euphorbia clavarioides var. truncata. I first ran into this fascinating poinsettia cousin at the Denver Botanic Gardens in the 1990s, and have subsequently killed it 5 times, prior to the construction of our crevice garden. Now, our specimen below is 2.5 years old and
If at first you don’t suceed, plant and plant again Read More »
Tired of trying to grow the conventional baby’s breath, that’s a prize perennial in the colder zones? We were, and had been looking for a substitute for years, when in 2000, one of our former staffers introduced us to the widespread native, Euphorbia corollata. Although it doesn’t look like much in deep shade where it’s
Redneck Baby’s Breath Read More »
For years, we struggled to grow the Mediterranean/Balkan native spurge, Euphorbia characias…until we discovered its secrets. First, it isn’t a long lived plant to begin with…in most cases 3-5 years is it, so you’ll need to plant it where it’s likely to reseed. That would be well-drained slopes that are either mulched or covered with
A Characias Cracker Read More »
Epimedium ‘Pink Champagne’ is dazzling today in the garden, both for the great foliage and floral show. Euphorbia x martinii ‘Ascot Rainbow’…WOW. Variegated foliage and very cool flowers. The key to growing this well is good drainage and immediately after flower, cut it back to near the ground. Clematis ochroleuca is an
Four favorites flowering today in the garden Read More »
One of my favorite euphorbias is the widespread US native, the deciduous Euphorbia corollata, which flowers for month in the garden. Here is our garden clump today…resembling a baby’s breath, but much more tolerant of humid summers. And for something completely different, here is the evergreen Euphorbia x martinii ‘Ascot Rainbow’ in the garden today. It
Euphorbias..much more than poinsettas. Read More »
