How to Grow Euphorbia Plants in your Garden
Gardener's HQ Guide to Growing Poinsettia, Daji, Ghost Weed, Spurge and Rattlesnake Weed
Members of the Euphorbia genus can be either annual or perennial, as they are a large genus, they are split into two and this section is dedicated to the annual varieties.
These shrubby plants are grown for their beautiful foliage by gardeners; this is usually bicoloured and includes red and green, and white and green.
The plants flower in the middle of summer and reach an height of about 45 to 60 cm in height.
Euphorbia barnardii by DerekKeats; creative commons.
Some of the common names for Euphorbia include Ghost Weed, Annual Poinsettia, Fire in the Mountain, Mexican Fire plant, Spurge and Painted Leaf. See this page for information on perennial Euphorbia Spurge species.
Euphorbia ingens by Brewbooks; creative commons.
Euphorbia Growing and Care Guide
Common Names: Poinsettia, Daji, Spurge, Rattlesnake Weed, Sandmat, Devil's Backbone, Sweet Tabaiba, African Milk Bush, Desert Candle, Painted Euphorbia, Paint Leaf, Ghost Weed, Christ Plant, Fireplant: Spurge: Paper; Spotted; Purple; Resin; Sea; Sun; Wood; Tree; Flowering.
Life Cycle: Hardy annual, half hardy annual.
Height: 6 to 30 inches (15 to 60 cm).
Native: Tropical: Americas, Africa. Temperate: Worldwide.
Flowers: Annual: Summer.
Flower Details: Usually bears male and female flowers on the same plant. In plants that are monoecious, young plants tend to have male flowers and older plants female.
Foliage: Leaves may be opposite, alternative or in the form of whorls. Some have attractive multi-coloured leaves.
Sow Inside: Annuals: germination time: ten days to one month. Temperature 70 to 75°F (21 to 24°C). Seven or eight weeks in advance. Transplant outdoors well after the last frost; minimum temperature should not drop below 50°F (10°C).
Perennials: full sunlight or light shade. Soil pH 6 to 7. Average soil. Regular watering whilst growing. Propagate: cuttings can be taken following flowering. Or divide in spring in cool climates or autumn in warm climates.
Family: Euphorbiaceae.
Miscellaneous: Wide ranging genus containing herbs, shrubs and trees. Many species are succulents. The name common name spurge comes from the use of sap as a purgative.
How to Grow Ghost Weed, Poinsettia and other Euphorbia Plants in the Garden
It is probably best to first grow Ghost weed and other annual Euphorbia plants indoors first.
Sow the seeds at a depth of about 6 mm, about two months before they are due to put in the garden (after the last frost of spring.
Euphorbia plants such as Poinsettia usually take about two to four weeks to germinate at a temperature of 21 to 24 degrees centigrade.
They should be planted out with a spacing of between 30 and 45 cm into a sunny part of the garden that has moist soil.
Euphorbia flowers and Euphorbia parciramulosa photographs by whologwhy and Manuel MartÃn Vicente.
Caring for Euphorbia in the Garden
It is important not to plant ghost weed and other Euphorbia members near to garden water features as they contain fish toxins that can leach.
Summary
The Ghost weed Euphorbia marginata is a flowering plant belonging to the genus Euphorbia, which itself encompasses over 2,000 species, making it one of the largest and most diverse genera in the plant kingdom. Named for Euphorbus, the Greek physician of King Juba II of Numidia, the genus is known for its unique floral structures and milky sap, often containing potent toxins.
Native to North America, Euphorbia marginata, also known as snow-on-the-mountain as well as Ghost weed, thrives best in sunny, well-drained conditions. As a warm season annual, it is typically sown in the spring once the soil has warmed up. It is often used in ornamental settings due to its attractive variegated foliage, but gardeners should handle it with care due to its potentially irritating sap.
I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Euphorbia Ghost Weed plants. You may also enjoy the following Gardener's HQ growing guides: How to grow Caster Bean and other Ricinus plants.
If you enjoy the information on this site, then you'll love my book: The Gardener's HQ Plant Growing Guide. Available for Kindle (MOBI), iPad (ePub) and as a PDF.
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