Re: Euphorbia lambii and E. dendroides

Angela,
Excuse me if you already got an answer to this
question, but as this is one of my favorite Euphorbias
and I have experience with it, I thought I would
answer you as well.  The mature size of this in a
frost free garden setting can easily get to be 5 feet
tall by across, which depending on how much water and
fertilizer it gets, can be quite rapid(within 3 three
years) to fairly slow under no water conditions.  As
it will be tree-like at maturity, you can still easily
underplant lower growing things, but give the plants
enough room to show off their sculptural qualities
without crowding them.  I'd suggest that at least 6
foot on center planting may be best.  Also, in my
opinion, they look great against an architectural
backdrop such as a blank wall or an evergreen hedge of
contrasting deeper green to show off the subtle blue
gray foliage.  They will also take light shade, but
have more compact growth in full sun.  They do great
here in Berkeley/San Francisco, but are tender to
frost much below 29F and can die back to the ground. 
I have often combined this plant with succulents such
as Aeoniums, Echeverias and Aloes below it, and larger
growing plants such as Aloe arborescens or Cereus or
Opuntias behind it.  In your mild climate, one of the
other tender Euphorbias such as E. cotinifolia, E.
xantii or E. tirucallii 'Sticks on Fire' might be good
backdrops for it.

If the soil drains well enough in wet conditions, you
may not have to amend the soil, but of course it
wouldn't hurt to do so to ensure good drainage.


On another note, I wonder if any California members
are growing the summer deicduous E. dendroides?  I am
reminded of how beautiful this plant looked covering
whole hillsides in bright red fall colors as it was
going dormant in Crete in May, and as featured on the
cover of Heidi Gildemeister's new book, Gardening the
Mediterranean Way.  She lists it as being potentially
invasive here in California, but I have never seen it
offered by any growers/nurseries.  Anyone have
experience with it?  If it isn't invasive, it sure
would make a spectacularly colorful, drought hardy
small shrub for unwatered and hot sunny slopes!

Hope this response was still timely...

David Feix in Berkeley, Ca.

--- angela lee <angelale@ucla.edu> wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> I have 3 Euphorbia lambii plants, and I am trying to
> decide how to 
> position them and what other plants to grow nearby.
> 
> How fast do the plants grow and how much room should
> I allow?  When 
> do they start to branch out on top?

> Soil is compacted clay where the builders have been
> walking and 
> storing their stuff.  Should I amend the soil?
> 
> Thanks for any information,
> 
> Angela
> Sunset 23/24, coastal Los Angeles
> 
> 



		
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