Euphorbia
you-FORB-ee-ah. Spurge family, Euphorbiaceae.
An enormous and varied genus, Euphorbia contains some 2,000 species of annuals, biennials, perennials, subshrubs and trees, as well as exotic-looking succulents. Poinsettias (E. pulcherrima) and crown-of-thorns (E. milii) are well-known houseplants that belong here; several species are easy, popular annuals. All euphorbias have milky sap and very small flowers that are clustered together in an arrangement called a cyantheum, in which a single female flower is surrounded by several male flowers. The showy "flowers" of these plants are actually colorful petal-like bracts (modified leaves) borne beneath the true flowers.
How To Grow
Full sun and poor to average well-drained soil that is evenly moist and light in texture will suffice for euphorbias grown as annuals. Sow seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost. Germination takes 2 to 4 weeks at 70 to 75 F. Transplant after the weather has settled and temperatures remain above 50 F. In areas with long, hot summers - roughly Zone 7 south - sow outdoors after the last spring frost date. Use annual euphorbias in mixed plantings. They also make attractive cut flowers: Sear the stem ends over a candle flame or dip the ends in boiling water to seal in the sap and prolong their vase life. Plants self sow.
E. Cyanthophora (pictured above left)
e. sigh-an-tho-FOR-ah. Annual Poinsettia, Fire-on-the-mountain, Painted Leaf.
Sometimes listed as E. heterophylla. A shrubby, 1 1/2- to 3-foot annual native to the United States and eastern Mexico. Grown for its showy leaves and bracts, which turn bright red at the stem tops like small poinsettias. Warm-weather annual.
E. Lathyris (pictured above right)
e. LATH-er-iss. Gopher Spurge, Mole Plant, Caper Spurge.
A 1- to 4-foot biennial with leathery, lance-shaped, gray- to blue-green leaves. Bears 10- to 12-inch wide umbels of yellow cyanthia in summer. Warm-weather annual.
E. Marginata (pictured at right)
e. mar-gin-AY-tah. Snow-on-the-mountain, Ghost Weed.
A vigorous 1- to 3-foot-tall annual native to North America. Grown for its white-edged leaves and bracts, which are carried in loose clusters in summer and fall. Warm-weather annual.
For the Plant Of The Month index click here.
The above copyrighted information is adapted with permission from the "Taylor’s Guide to Annuals: How to select and grow more than 400 annuals, biennials, and tender perennials," (Houghton Mifflin, 1999, softcover) written by Barbara W. Ellis and published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. The Exclusive Online Only Author's Note comes directly from Ellis and is not included in the book.
Ellis is also the author of "Taylor's Guide to Growing North America's Favorite Plants: A detailed, how-to-grow guide to selecting, planting, and caring for the best classic plants." (Houghton Mifflin, 1998, softcover). Country Living magazine called this comprehensive reference "The 'must-have' gardening book of the year."
For more information about these books, please visit your local bookseller.
Images provided by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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