The spurges are one of the largest genera in the plant kingdom. The common name "spurge" derives from Old French espurge ("to purge"), due to the use of the plants as a laxative. The plants are annual or perennial herbs, woody shrubs or trees with a poisonous milky sap.
2 May, 2008
Beautiful contrast with the purple leaves, is that the euphorbia itself or something else?
On photo - Euphorbia polychroma
29 Apr, 2008
I found it at a 'Stately Home' open garden three years ago. It was rampaging through a gravelled area. I really like it and it has spread quite a lot, but is contained within a space - in gravel..
On photo - Euphorbia cyparissias
29 Apr, 2008
On this occasion, Bonkers, I think you are wrong! I think it might be E. cyparissias. No picture in HS books but description matches.
On question - Euphorbia variety
26 Apr, 2008
Thanks Bonkers - I'll look it up in my trusty RHS A-Z! I got it at an Open Garden two years ago - with no plant label. Naughty, naughty! I liked it, though, so it came home with me...
On question - Euphorbia variety
26 Apr, 2008
Hi Spritz smallest Euphorbia I know is E.myrsinites that grows no more than 6" tall and scrambles rather than more upright varieties.
On question - Euphorbia variety
20 Apr, 2008
I think there is another possible cause to individual stems of woody perennials doing this 'die back' thing. I have noticed not only with Euphorbias but also Penstemons, Echinaceaes, Eryngiums and similar woody basal perennials - basal ground level stems and main root joints - the presence of slugs making a 'nest' for egg laying in late winter early spring. Because only individual spikes or stems are affected this suggests the damage is being caused 'locally'. If you can tease away the soil around the affected stem you may well find the culprit. Cut out infected material carefully and your plants should recover. Dare I also suggest a treatment with a suitable slug pellet to ensure eradication, then an application of a more environmentally friendly control - 25 to 40mm depth of coarse horticultural grit spread around the base of each plant given a radius of 250mm (10").
On question - Euphorbia problem
8 Apr, 2008
I would love to have this plant, it's very hard to find over here.
On photo - Another plant to have near water
6 Apr, 2008
hello everyone i have got this plant in my garden it is growing in the shade in damp conditions and as andrewr said it should come with a health warning it is extremely invasive but easy to dig out, watch out for the white sap wich commes out off the stems when broken it can be irritating to some peoples skin so wear gloves.
On photo - Euphorbia amygdaloides var.robbiae
23 Mar, 2008
Thanks for that, Buzzbee. I'll have a go at basal cuttings then.
On question - Euphorbia problem
22 Mar, 2008
According to the RHS Encyclopaedia, propagation is by basal cuttings in spring or summer, by division in spring or early autumn or by seed in autumn or spring.
On question - Euphorbia problem
18 Mar, 2008
yes i found mine is taking ages 2 get established in my clay soil boader 2Andrewr its been in there nearly a year now& has only now started 2 grow?
On photo - Euphorbia amygdaloide var robbiae
18 Mar, 2008
I just planted some of these last week but I have heavy clay so they should stay put hopefully
On photo - Euphorbia amygdaloide var robbiae
18 Mar, 2008
E. robbiae is notorious for being invasive - you have been warned!!!
On photo - Euphorbia amygdaloides var.robbiae
17 Mar, 2008
I planted three in a space under a Pittosporum tree where there isn't anything since I cleared away all the Ivy from the ground. I hope they DO spread - at least for a while!
On photo - Euphorbia amygdaloides var.robbiae
17 Mar, 2008
I think this one should be sold with a health warning. I planted it in light soil in shade and it ran the whole length of the border in just three years. Now it's in a bottomless pot in heavy clay and has only just thought about making a move
On photo - Euphorbia amygdaloides var.robbiae
17 Mar, 2008
Is it in dappled shade and damp? that's what it prefers.
On photo - Euphorbia amygdaloides var.robbiae
17 Mar, 2008
Iv this plant 2 but it seems to be taking ages to get established is this normal ???
On photo - Euphorbia amygdaloides var.robbiae
16 Mar, 2008
Thanks for the ideas, folks.
Goringfolly - it is getting quite big now, maybe it is just age. Alas, there are no seedlings. I don't know why, as this plant was a seedling that I dug up and potted on from underneath the parent plant and there were loads of them. Maybe I deadhead them a bit too enthusiastically. I tried to collect some seed last year, but they have yet to germinate. Maybe it is sterile? Do you know how I might propagate it vegitively?
Buzzbee - thanks for the thought, but I think if frost was to blame, then the effect would cover all the flower heads and not just the odd one or two. It also seems to happen over a period of time, rather than the whole lot going at once. I have a sneaking suspicion it's something fungal, but I don't know. It seems to recover each time, so I'll just wait and see i guess!
Thanks both!
Sid.
On question - Euphorbia problem
16 Mar, 2008
No, this one is all lime-green, almost sulpher yellow. I know the one you mean - maybe it is a different sub species?
On photo - Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii
15 Mar, 2008
I don't know Sid, but the RHS lists this plant as being Frost Hardy as opposed to Fully Hardy - have you had some cold nights this winter? I wonder if that might be a factor?
On question - Euphorbia problem
15 Mar, 2008
I grow a lot of these and it often happens to plants that are just getting old and woody. I then find that the whole plant withers and dies in a year or so. Very easy to replace with one of the many self sown seedlings that must be nearby.
TimB
On question - Euphorbia problem
15 Mar, 2008
Does this variety have the little, bright red eye in the center of the bloom ? I would love to have one of them.
On photo - Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii
23 Nov, 2007
Yippeeee the festive season approaches!! Sorry, I'm worse than the kids!!
On photo - Poinsettia
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27 Jun, 2008
I have my poinsettia plant for 4 years now, the leaves become more numerous and smaller each year.
On photo - Poinsettia