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This euphorbia puts thrill in fill

Sacramento Digs Gardening
BY Debbie Arrington PUBLISHED AUG 27, 2018

Diamond Mountain euphorbia has tiny winged flowers. It's new from Proven Winners. (Photos: Debbie Arrington)

Euphorbia fills in beautifully between Supertunia and Angelonia.

New plant introduction: Frilly but tough Diamond Mountain loves Sacramento heat

One plant can change a whole family's reputation. It can put the thrill into fill.

Such is the case with a surprising euphorbia that should find a home on California patios for many summers to come. Called Diamond Mountain, this euphorbia hybrid is a new introduction from Proven Winners. It's similar to an earlier introduction, Diamond Frost, but bigger -- 24 to 36 inches tall and wide.

Euphorbia is better known by its common name: spurge. Sacramento gardeners rank spurge among their most hated weeds. But euphorbia is a big family, and this hybrid plays up its good points. What makes spurge such a persistent weed works for Diamond Mountain: It has very low-water demands, needs no maintenance, withstands intense heat, grows quickly and blooms like crazy -- in full sun or mostly shade.

Diamond Mountain also plays an underappreciated but very useful role: It's good filler. Like baby's breath in bouquets, it's a tiny little white flower that fills the gaps around the big showy blooms. But those little flowers make their counterparts look better and visually hold the arrangement together.
That same concept works in container gardens and larger landscape beds. With its strange winged white flowers, Diamond Mountain sparkles in part shade -- or moonlight. It's a very attractive supporting player.

Hardy in zones 10 and 11, Diamond Mountain is right on the edge of its comfort zone in Sacramento's 9b, where it likely will die off due to winter frost. But I expect mine to keep blooming through November; since it stays pretty warm on the patio.

Diamond Mountain LOVED this Sacramento summer. It thrived in a large container with two other test plants, Angelface Steel Blue summer snapdragon (an Angelonia hybrid) and cascading Supertunia Vista Bubblegum (a highly rated pink petunia hybrid). All three are non-stop bloomers and complemented each other well. With its airy cloud of flowers, the euphorbia proved to be the head turner. Visitors wondered, "What is that?! "

Another plus: Diamond Mountain didn't get eaten by bugs. While snails chewed on the petunia and something else nibbled Angelface, the euphorbia grew untouched, thanks probably to its white latex sap. (That sticky sap can cause allergic reactions or skin irritation; wear gloves when working with this plant.)

Diamond Mountain has attractive foliage, too, that forms a softly mounded green pillow beneath the long-stemmed frilly blooms. It's such a delicate look for a very tough plant, and opened my eyes to euphorbia's potential. Next time I hear euphorbia, I won't automatically think spurge.

For more on Diamond Mountain: www.provenwinners.com , https://www.provenwinners.com/plants/euphorbia/diamond-mountain-euphorbia-hybrid

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gardening Sacramento euphorbia blossoms low-water plants container gardening filler plants landscape plants summer gardens flowers

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Food in My Back Yard Series

March 18: Time to give vegetable seedlings some more space

March 11: Ways to win the fight against weeds

March 4: Potatoes from the garden

Feb. 25: Plant a fruit tree now -- for later

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Garden Checklist for week of March 23

The warm weather expected early in the week will prompt rapid growth – especially weeds! Make the most of those sunny breaks and get to work!

* Fertilize roses, annual flowers and berries as spring growth begins to appear.

* Watch out for aphids! Knock them off plants with a strong stream of water from the hose.

* Pull weeds now! Don’t let them get started. Take a hoe and whack them as soon as they sprout.

* Prepare vegetable beds. Spade in compost and other amendments.

* Prune and fertilize spring-flowering shrubs after bloom.

* Feed camellias at the end of their bloom cycle. Pick up browned and fallen flowers to help corral blossom blight.

* Feed citrus trees, which are now in bloom and setting fruit.

* Cut back and fertilize perennial herbs to encourage new growth.

* In the vegetable garden, transplant lettuce and cole family plants, such as cauliflower, broccoli, collards and kale.

* Seed chard and beets directly into the ground. (Soak beet seeds overnight in room-temperature water for better germination.)

* Plant summer bulbs, including gladiolus, tuberous begonias and callas. Also plant dahlia tubers.

* Shop for perennials. They can be transplanted now while the weather remains relatively cool.

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