Monday, March 12, 2018

Euphorbia rigida, never the same plant twice

I adore Euphorbia rigida, and plenty of people I know seem to feel the same way. Photos of this plant have been showing up on blogs, Facebook and Instagram for weeks. And I noticed something, it never looks the same, it's a little different in every garden. A post by Jennifer at Rock Rose: Long Lasting Spring Bloomer really stood out to me. This is how her plants look, just before they bloom, with that light green flare at the tip.

My plant has never looked like this! She also noted "It is a mystery to me why it was given the species name 'rigida' because it is anything but rigid, the stems trailing along the ground like the tentacles of an octopus. It needs plenty of room to complete its annual growing cycle."

So when I cracked open the latest issue of Atomic Ranch...

And saw that little Euphorbia below (near the fold), of course I thought of Jennifer.

That is a VERY rigid plant. I've never seen a Euphorbia quite like it.


Then I saw a post by Denise over at A Growing Obsession. Those are pretty rigid Euphorbia, don't you think?

Mine tend more towards the lazy rambling side.

All of my current plants are offspring of just one I planted several years ago.

That's the best thing about this plant, it gives you others, and knows just where to put them.

And they're easily pulled if they show up where you don't want them.

Plus, they make great cut flowers (shown along with a stem of Helleborus argutifolius and a few cuttings of Grevillea australis).

But please be mindful of the sap. The latex that oozes from a cut is nasty, irritating stuff. It's why I didn't arrange these stems more carefully. Not that it matters, they're lovely wherever they land.

Visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden for links other bloggers with a more studied approach to their vase offerings. And check out the tag #euphorbiarigida on Instagram for tons of photos of this interesting — and ever changing — plant.

Weather Diary, March 11: Hi 68, Low 42/ Precip 0

All material © 2009-2018 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

19 comments:

  1. I wonder if it has to do with how much, or the quality of sun, it gets? The angle of our spring sun here is very different from California. Mine is very floppy too. Once again I admire your Polynesian lady. I managed to find a lady vase at a vintage shop recently, she's not Polynesian, she looks more like one of the secretaries from Mad Men. I need to use her soon.

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    1. Sure, that could be, however I see huge variances in the look between plants here in Portland that friends have posted photos of too. I can totally picture your vase! Look forward to seeing it.

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  2. Nothing beats that limey green color. To die for!

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  3. The final arrangement is amazing.

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  4. It is one of my favorite spring plants and I like it the rest of the year too but have never thought of cutting them to bring inside. What a great idea. I know in England they have lots of different Euphorbias and many are upright with gorgeous blooms. You have a climate not dissimilar from England so I am sure you could grow more. Or maybe you have. In fact I brought one back from the Seattle Fling- Rainbow something but it didn't survive. Does not like our summers, I guess.

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    1. Maybe E. 'Ascot Rainbow'? It's another favorite, there will be photos in my Bloomday post. I'm guessing there are four Euphorbia blooming right now in my garden and another two on the way. Love them!

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  5. I wonder if it's called rigida to make a distinction from myrsinites, that only sprawls. They seem very similar to me otherwise, but I don't have the rigida to compare more closely.
    That lady vase must be thrilled with her new chartreuse embellishment.

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    1. It definitely is more rigid than E. myrsinites, which I've given up on because it is so sprawling and looses it's leaves.

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  6. It's a swell plant with great bloom color standing up or lying down. Love them in your face vase; she looks good wearing just about anything.

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  7. They look great in your vases! Years ago, I remember asking you to ID a plant in one of your photos, which you subsequently named as Euphorbia rigida. At the time, I was surprised because the plants I had didn't look the same. Well, those same plants still flop and never show up with flowers as bright as yours but a second group, in fuller sun, is currently standing tall with its chartreuse color beaming.

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    1. Interesting observations Kris. So as Alison suggested it might be a sun/shade thing...

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  8. Love your vintage vase - she looks demure under her plumage!
    Maybe the differences in the euphorbia are due to amount of light they receive or soil that may be phosphorous deficient?

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    1. I think it might be the light, especially after reading what Kris had to say, above.

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  9. What a perceptive post! It is interesting how it looks so different in every place. I really like it in all its forms, and it stops me in my tracks when I see it during travels.

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    1. Your reply has me thinking it's not hardy for you?

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  10. Before E. rigida I grew myrsinites, which is a real sprawler. After growing rigida, I never looked back! I bet myrsinites would be great on a wall tho...

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