Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Euphorbia stygiana; my favorite plant in the garden this week…

Why is Euphorbia stygiana my favorite this week? Well, besides the fact it’s just a darn good looking plant, I stopped the other day and really looked at it, realizing just how substantial it’s become.

Planted from a 4” container a little less than a year ago its leaves are now almost as long as the entire plant was tall back then.

And its tiny stem has become a trunk!

Wait…what’s that wrapping around the trunk?

Wire vine (Muehlenbeckia axillaris)! I thought I pulled all of that thug, turns out a missed a few pieces and this one had worked its way to the top of the Euphorbia.

No longer.

The stats:
  • Evergreen shrub to 5ft tall, 6ft wide
  • Said to grow in zones 8a – 10b although I had one die in a more exposed site at 18F
  • Likes sun to partial shade and is drought tolerant once established
  • Wants well drained soil

I’ll be curious to see if it blooms this summer, the flowers aren’t all that showy but I’d still like to see them. I've never met a Euphorbia bloom that I don't love.

All material © 2009-2013 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

33 comments:

  1. What a lovely euphorbia, so far I have limited myself to the smaller variates, but with more space :)

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    1. This is one of those plants I wasn't sure would live (based on my previously having lost one) so I didn't pay too much attention to the size. I hope I don't regret that!

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  2. Stunner! That one looks like a keeper!!

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  3. We echo your praise for this plant, a much better performer than the similar x pasteurii!

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    1. I'd like to claim to have made the choice based on careful research but alas I just grabbed the first one I saw for sale last spring.

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  4. Beautiful and inspiring! Mine survived the Winter and I can't wait to see what it will do this year.

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    1. Yay! I am so glad to hear that...you'll have to be sure to let me know how it does.

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  5. It sure is nice! I just wish your weekly favorites would be more cold-hardy sometimes. :)

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    1. Uhm...perhaps I'll make that a goal for a couple of upcoming features.

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  6. That's a good looking evergreen! I know some holes in our backyard that could benefit from a Euphorbia stygiana.

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    1. And it would love the sunshine and wide open space to roam. However knowing that you have a four-legged friend who likes to nibble I would advise against planting this, or any euphorbia. We'll talk...

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  7. The shrubby Euphorbias are really handsome plants.

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    1. I dream of growing the tree euphorbias too!

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  8. Where can I get one? I was just admiring one a few blocks from Alberta on 20th last night... I think this is something sturdy enough to survive the curbside basketball at my house.

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    1. I bought mine at Garden Fever last spring, it was a Xera plant. If you ask at the counter they have a list of requests and will call you when it comes in.

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    2. Darn, I was just there. Next week!

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  9. I was thinking of begging a bit of wire vine from Linda at the swap, but it looks as if it behaves a lot like wild morning glory...YIKES!

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    1. It's crazy stuff! For more pictures of it's twining ways revisit this post: http://dangergarden.blogspot.com/2012/12/well-arent-you-little-thug.html

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  10. Beautiful plant!!! love it!!

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    1. I bet it would do well for you Lisa, if you can find it.

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    2. I´ll try to find it but I suppose I'll have to buy it at ebay to some english producer or grow it from seeds after ordering some. Thanks for the idea!

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  11. Okay. I'm sold. I'll be looking for it. I wonder if Dancing Oaks has it. Very cool. I like Wire Vine. I keep mine in a pot though so it doesn't get too tenacious.

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    1. If I ever buy Wire Vine again it will stay in a container, lesson learned!

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  12. I have grown what I thought was stygiana for 8 years now and I like it a lot, particularly the green of the leaves and the way the rain balls on them after rainfall.

    Mine used to flower regularly in early summer until the start of the cruel winters of the last few years. Whilst the top growth isn't that hardy the roots are as the top of mine was all killed after winter 10/11, but grew back afterwards.

    The flowers are not as pretty as other Euphorbia IMO, but the way they scatter their seeds is fun (wait and see).

    Someone actually thought mine was a pasteurii rather than a stygiana.

    Mine was looking good until a few weeks ago. The harsh winter weather of March has really taken its toll on it and it looks quite knackered. I hope that it recovers when the warmer weather returns :)

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    1. Do they make a "pop" like Euphorbia characias wulfenii does when its seeds scatter? (love that)

      I hope yours recovers too, damn winter go away!!!

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  13. Xera might have the Euphorbia stygiana at Hortlandia on April 13th and 14th. You might even call or email to request one. http://www.hardyplantsociety.org/hortlandia

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  14. I have just come across this in my google alert on Euphorbia and I am sure what you are growing is Euphorbia x pasteurii. I have grown this hybrid now for 20 years and it is 8 meters across. Much more vigorous than either parent. E. mellifera or E. stygiana.

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  15. AnonymousJune 04, 2014

    Mine is in flower now. Smells like heather honey! Brilliant!

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  16. Highly poisonous plant that can put you in the hospital. I wouldn't plant this in my garden especially if you have young children. The contact with sap can cause severe burns and dermatitis. ingesting the sap can KILL you.

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