Please help identify plant?

19 years ago

Hello all,

I'm new to the Pacific NW from New England, so I'm dealing with a lot of new plants. I was hoping someone could help me identify this one:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1190/1271246531_967f40f3a7.jpg?v=1188440017

Those rust-colored things used to be greenish-white and papery. They were quite pretty even after they dried up a bit, though by the time I took this picture they were looking pretty ratty.

The plant is in several different spots in my yard. It seems to be a pretty aggressive spreader. I think it might be used as a groundcover though it gets fairly tall (about 1'-1.5'). I haven't decided how I feel about it, but until then I'd like to know how to care for it.

Thanks!

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Comments (7)

aftermidnight Zone7b B.C. Canada
19 years ago
Looks like a Euphorbia, possibly amygdaloides, this one does spread quite quickly

A......
Sharyl
Original Author
19 years ago
Thank you; I've looked at some pictures of Euphorbia online and have to agree. Drat; I don't think I pruned it correctly--I just took the flowering stem off down to the top set of leaves. Well, if it's as aggressive as it seems to be, it'll probably find a way to survive. :)

Thanks again!
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knotz
19 years ago
Welcome sharylmb!!...You'll love growing plants here...My sister in law tries to talk us into moving to Florida and I tell her I couldn't grow these beautiful flowers that I grow here, over there.

Don't get me wrong, I like tropicals, but I love the flowers here.

Where are you located??..I'm in the SW part of WA.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
19 years ago
It's Euphorbia robbiae, commonly known as Mrs. Robb's Bonnet. This is an excellent groundcovering plant for dry shade, in fact one of the best, and a good evergreen replacement for similar situations where English ivy was the only plant of choice, like underneath a deck or a large western red cedar. It does have a capacity to spread rather readily, more so in better growing conditions, but it is easy enough to keep in check. As with any of the evergreen hardy euphorbs, you cut the flowering stem back to the ground once the flowers fade.
Sharyl
Original Author
19 years ago
Thanks so much! Now I'm wondering if I should go back and reprune. As I stated, I cut the stem down to the TOP set of leaves--definitely not to the ground. Will I have much less flowers next year as a result?
Sharyl
Original Author
19 years ago
Hi Knotz, and thanks for the welcome! I'm in Seattle proper.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
19 years ago
It shouldn't affect flower development. Hardy evergreen euphorbias produce flowers at the terminal ends of growth produced the previous season. Old flowering stems are unlikely to ever produce a second set of flowers, but it could happen, generally from an offshoot. What you will most often see is a gradual discoloration of the remaining foliage on that stem and finally dieback. It's not a big deal to have only removed the flowering tops but you'll get a cleaner, tidier appearance if you remove the old flowering stems entirely after the flowers fade.