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.
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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."
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So when I cracked open the latest issue of Atomic Ranch...
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And saw that little Euphorbia below (near the fold), of course I thought of Jennifer.
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That is a VERY rigid plant. I've never seen a Euphorbia quite like it.
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Then I saw a post by Denise over at A Growing Obsession. Those are pretty rigid Euphorbia, don't you think?
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Mine tend more towards the lazy rambling side.
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All of my current plants are offspring of just one I planted several years ago.
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That's the best thing about this plant, it gives you others, and knows just where to put them.
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And they're easily pulled if they show up where you don't want them.
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Plus, they make great cut flowers (shown along with a stem of Helleborus argutifolius and a few cuttings of Grevillea australis).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.