Dearborn Heights, MI (Zone 6a) | May 2015 | neutral
List of all synonyms for (Euphorbia amygdaloides) with a high confidence level:
Characias amygdaloides
Esula amygda...Read Moreloides
Esula sylvatica
Euphorbia chaixiana
Euphorbia ligulata
Euphorbia micans
Euphorbia rubra
Euphorbia purpurea
Euphorbia purpurata
Euphorbia nemoralis
Euphorbia sanguinea
Euphorbia sventenii
Euphorbia sylvatica
Keraselma sylvaticum
Tithymalus sylvaticus
This is an exceptionally valuable perennial, though it can be short-lived here in Z6a. It tolerates dry shade, though it prefers light sh...Read Moreade and moist well-drained soil. The maroon foliage is a good color echo with the dark-leaved Heucheras, and both plants like the same conditions. Semi-evergreen here in Boston, and evergreen further south. The purple foliage tints are stronger with more sun.
The chartreuse flower bracts are very showy and liven pink-and-purple color schemes. Bloom occurs on the ends of last year's stems, so don't cut this plant back in your fall cleanup. Cut flowering stems to the ground after bloom to encourage fresh growth from the base. This is the only maintenance needed.
Valuable as it is, this species is being displaced in the trade by E. x martinii hybrids, which are showy but not as hardy, and usually used as container plants.
Like most perennials, this will self-sow sparingly under ideal conditions, if seed is allowed to mature. It will not become a pest. Seedlings come true to foliage color.
Like all euphorbias, the sap is a sticky white latex that's toxic. Rarely eaten by deer or other foragers. Some people get a skin rash from contact with the sap, and the sap can cause temporary blindness if it gets in the eyes.
After several years, mature clumps can be divided. When bare-rooted, clumps will fall easily apart into separate plants.
Not recommended for places with hot humid summers and frequent night temperatures over 70F, as in USDA zones 8 and higher in the East. Prone to mildew under such conditions. Also mildew prone in the Pacific Northwest, but not here in southern New England.
This is also called Euphorbia amygdaloides var. rubra, E. amygdaloides f. rubra, E. amygdaloides 'Purpurea', E. amygdaloides var. purpurea, E. amygdaloides f. purpurea.
I have had this plant for 2 years now. It is in a partially shaded area in my front yard and is really beautiful. It is about 30 inches...Read More tall and wide and has a nice rounded shape with beautiful yellow flowers in the spring. I wasn't sure how to prune it but I believe I should cut the flowers off.
I noticed another user had trouble growing this in zone 5 which is where I am. I find with plants it is all about location/location/location.
Wood Spurge does well in Salt Lake City, Utah, where it gets hot in summer and down to about 0 in winter. It likes SUN. It spreads out an...Read Mored gets pretty big in short time. The small plants I planted a year ago are now about 18 inches by 18 inches. Seems quite hardy and easy to grow in a sunny spot. It doesn't seem to be invasive however. I love the colors. Very unusual! Red-purple leaves and green-yellow flowers! The leaves hold their color all winter, providing great "winter interest."
I live in zone 5-5 1/2 just west of Toronto, Ontario Canada. This plant was amazing in my garden last summer, but did not survive the win...Read Moreter. The plant tag listed it as being to zone 5 so I thought I'd be safe with it. I've since learned that it should be hilled up with mulch around the stem & root area in the fall in this region. I'd also like to know if this plant should be cut back come spring. The stems & leaves appeared to be dead come spring, so I did cut it back as I do with all my perennials with the exception of creeping phlox. The plant did not seem to be well-rooted, was very "wiggly" in it's location & I could just about lift it out of the garden come spring. It may have "lifted" due to the heave of the freeze & thaw cycle. Any help is greatly appreciated as I'd like to try this plant again.
Rounded glossy forest green foliage is upright; the whorls are reminiscent of a palm tree. Evergreen foliage looks great all winter long ...Read Moreif protected from winter winds. Spreads underground by runners. This plant can be used in difficult shady spots, dry or moist. In early spring, flowers are large glowing lime green clusters, constrasting with the red-purple outer bracts.
This plant can get leggy; plant low-growing plants such as bergenia and primrose to cover the stems.
List of all synonyms for (Euphorbia amygdaloides) with a high confidence level:
Characias amygdaloides
Esula amygda...Read More
This is an exceptionally valuable perennial, though it can be short-lived here in Z6a. It tolerates dry shade, though it prefers light sh...Read More
I have had this plant for 2 years now. It is in a partially shaded area in my front yard and is really beautiful. It is about 30 inches...Read More
Wood Spurge does well in Salt Lake City, Utah, where it gets hot in summer and down to about 0 in winter. It likes SUN. It spreads out an...Read More
Has dark burgundy foliage and flowers during spring with yellow flowers. Provides winterinterest because plant stays winter"green".
We grow the Euphorbia amygdaloides purpurpea in shaded areas where it multiplies easily. This is poisonous for bunnies.
I live in zone 5-5 1/2 just west of Toronto, Ontario Canada. This plant was amazing in my garden last summer, but did not survive the win...Read More
Rounded glossy forest green foliage is upright; the whorls are reminiscent of a palm tree. Evergreen foliage looks great all winter long ...Read More