I have several clumps of Euphorbia characais which looked very scruffy after flowering, so about a month ago,(late March early April) following general advice, I cut the flowered stems - which was virtually all of them - down to base level.
How long should it be before new growth appears? the plants were very strong growers, but I fear this treatment might be a bit too drastic?
I leave the flowering stems too nut. They can be really attractivefor a long period. Insects love the bracts too. A slightly underrated garden plant I think.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I planted my first Euphorbia this year. Mine are still only about 18" tall. Those in your photo are simply stunning, AWB. I'm looking forward to mine getting bigger and blooming.
Posts
cut the flower stems back to base but not the leaves.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Take care when doing so. The sap is a skin irritant
Yes I got burnt by it the other day when i was being careless :-(
Thanks for that, I'll get busy chopping. They looked great last year, not so much this year.
I have several clumps of Euphorbia characais which looked very scruffy after flowering, so about a month ago,(late March early April) following general advice, I cut the flowered stems - which was virtually all of them - down to base level.
How long should it be before new growth appears? the plants were very strong growers, but I fear this treatment might be a bit too drastic?
Steve
I generally wait til the new growth has started before I cut off the flowering stems. My flowering stems still look too good to cut off
In the sticks near Peterborough
Just returned from a visit to Mayne Island BC.
Euphorbia is everywhere and almost considered a weed,
Suffered from asthma like symptoms, which I have never done in the past.googled not only is the sap harmful the pollen does cause allergies
I leave the flowering stems too nut. They can be really attractivefor a long period. Insects love the bracts too. A slightly underrated garden plant I think.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I planted my first Euphorbia this year. Mine are still only about 18" tall. Those in your photo are simply stunning, AWB. I'm looking forward to mine getting bigger and blooming.