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Euphorbia polychroma/dulcis winter care question

Posted by david883 Z6 MI (My Page) on
Mon, Dec 17, 12 at 5:58

Okay... I have one Euphorbia polychroma and one Euphorbia dulcis chameleon. The polychroma's leaves wilted up and the stems started looking dried up a few weeks ago. The dulcis finally did the same a few days ago. My question is... do I chop the stems back to the ground? Or a few inches? I can't find anything online to tell me!


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: Euphorbia polychroma/dulcis winter care question

Well, it's winter. Perennials die back. Cut them back now or do it in spring. they'll come back from the crown next spring.


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RE: Euphorbia polychroma/dulcis winter care question

in my z5 MI.. i tend to wait until spring ... wondering if i am going to cut off the only piece that made it thru winter ... especially on plants i am not familiar with ...

that said.. my common E .. you couldnt kill with a truck ... and i sure looks like polycroma... i am not sure its a long lived perennial ... but there are always a couple dozen plants around ...

which by the way.. it seeds and meanders all over its bed ... so if any of that left is seed pods.. you might want to either sprinkle the stuff around.. or simply cut it.. and lay it where you might want more in spring ...

can i ask.. what the heck are you doing.. in your garden.. in MI!!! .. in december!!!! ... you might not want to spend a lot of time compressing the soil ... when its not frozen ...

ken


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RE: Euphorbia polychroma/dulcis winter care question

You can cut them back now or in early Spring. I would leave a couple inches of stem above the soil line so you ensure you don't damage the crown or new growth that sometimes begins just a bit above the soil line.


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RE: Euphorbia polychroma/dulcis winter care question

I've had Euphorbia polychroma for nearly 20 years and have never done anything to it in any season--just give it full sun, leave it alone and let it do its thing. Picked up some E. 'Bonfire' a couple years ago and so far they've done just fine with the same hands off treatment. It's among my most carefree perennials.


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