Euphorbia

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by OwdPotter, Apr 16, 2024.

  1. OwdPotter

    OwdPotter Gardener

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    I like them but have mixed results with them so far, and am not sure whether I am giving them the right conditions or treating them correctly.
    I would be interested to get some I.D's and opinions on my following queries from anyone who knows them or grows them.
    In general, my conditions are slightly acid, stony, clay based soil which drains reasonably well on my sloping site (soil stays moist most of year but doesn't get waterlogged).
    South facing full sun aspect.
    I'll put my queries into separate posts, hopefully to simplify things.
    TIA
     
  2. OwdPotter

    OwdPotter Gardener

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    This one we inherited. I.D please?
    180521.jpg
    I transplanted to ground after a year or so and it seems not to have done so well since. It is still trying, and some years is better than others.
    This is it 2 days ago and it looks the worst it's been so far, maybe the unprecedented wet weather this year?
    IMG_0764.JPG
    I would like to give it a chance to recover if I can
     
  3. OwdPotter

    OwdPotter Gardener

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    This is E. carachias humpty dumpty.
    220321.jpg
    It was doing well but was killed in the winter of 22/23,
    230325 (2).JPG
    or at least I thought it was.
    This has recently grown in the spot that HD was previously in. Could this be Humpty Dumpty regenerating itself?
    Foliage looks different to me, not so glaucous coloured
    IMG_0765.JPG
     
  4. OwdPotter

    OwdPotter Gardener

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    This has appeared.
    I'm presuming it has self seeded from one in my neighbour's garden which it looks like.
    I.D please.
    It looks happy enough but is in the wrong place. When is best time to move it, following flowering?
    IMG_0766.JPG
     
  5. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    I wonder if that is a seedling.
     
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    • Plantminded

      Plantminded Keen Gardener

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      Hello @OwdPotter, I’ve grown several varieties of Euphorbia over the years and have found the plain green leaved varieties like the ones you have to be the most reliable. They like my dry, sandy soil but don’t do well in pots. Yours all look like varieties of E. characias, the first may be wulfenii and the last one Black Pearl. That does look like a seedling of Humpty Dumpty, as @pete suggested. These varieties all have biennial flowering stems, so it’s best to remove the current year’s flowers at the base once they’ve faded to allow the new flowering stems at the base to grow the following year. I give mine some blood fish and bone in Spring but don’t water them, they seem happy enough with the rainfall that they get.
       
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      • OwdPotter

        OwdPotter Gardener

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        Thanks @pete,
        The odd thing there is, if it is Humpty Dumpty, I can't imagine where it could have seeded from as the parent plant had died and gone to plant nirvana (my compost heap), which is why I wonder if it may possibly have regenerated from some remaining root?
         
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        • OwdPotter

          OwdPotter Gardener

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          Hiya @Plantminded,
          Many thanks for your detailed response. I sort of recalled that you maybe grew euphorbias. The I.D's are appreciated too.
          Your freely draining sandy soil will no doubt be perfect for them, but unfortunately is something that I cannot provide them. Best I can hope to aspire to is improve the drainage structure of my clay soil further by adding lots of leaf mould, which I do, and hope that it will be sufficient.
          I guess the fact that at least one (Black Pearl) has self seeded, and H.D whether self seeded or regen, is a good sign and must indicate that they can thrive in my soil.
          Would I be ok to relocate these following flowering and removal of the spent stems?
          Again, many thanks for your info.
           
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          • OwdPotter

            OwdPotter Gardener

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            @Plantminded
            BTW, I found a better picture of the first one, which may help to confirm your I.D ?
            190326 (5).jpg
             
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            • Plantminded

              Plantminded Keen Gardener

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              They seem not to mind being moved @OwdPotter, I’ve even moved some young plants in flower successfully. Your additional photo makes me rule out wulfenii, but it could be martini, judging by the red in the flower and stems, although there are so many similar varieties. I’ve never gardened on clay soil but improving drainage will certainly help as they seem to revel in my poor soil! This RHS guide may help you:
              https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/euphorbiagrowerguide_fordownload.pdf
               
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                Last edited: Apr 16, 2024
              • Plantminded

                Plantminded Keen Gardener

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                If you can find an area in your garden that is sloping rather than flat @OwdPotter, the improved drainage may suit your Euphorbias better. I recently moved one from the bottom of my bank where it was loosing leaves from the lower stems to a higher position and within a couple of months it looks a lot better.
                 
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                • OwdPotter

                  OwdPotter Gardener

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                  I lifted plant 1 to relocate it. Think I see why it might be struggling a bit this year!!
                  No vine weevil grubs that I could see, maybe theyv'e b*ggered off to find summat else to feast on now.
                  IMG_0775.JPG IMG_0776.JPG
                  Might be asking a bit of it, but I've replanted it anyway so we'll see.
                   
                • Butterfly6

                  Butterfly6 Gardener

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                  I moved a characis wulfenii that looked a bit like that a couple of summers ago. I thought I had lost it but it’s suddenly reappeared and bigger than ever (not huge but much better than previously). I can only assume that the excessively wet Autumn and Winter has given it a much needed boost
                   
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                  • Plantminded

                    Plantminded Keen Gardener

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                    I’d remove those three flowering stems down to the base @OwdPotter, if you haven’t already done so, to give the roots time to recover and get established.
                     
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                    • Punkdoc

                      Punkdoc experienced

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                      Don’t forget there is a lovely Euphorbia for damp ground, grows well in my bog garden, E.pallustris.
                      E.martinii grows pretty much anywhere in my garden and will self seed.
                       
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