Plant pick: Humpty Dumpty

Published 8:03 pm Wednesday, April 8, 2009

WHAT: Euphorbias of all sorts are starting to bloom now. If you’d like to try a variety that’s smaller than typical species varieties, take a look at Humpty Dumpty. This dwarf Mediterranean spurge enjoys Western Washington’s extended summer dry spells and can also tolerate wet winters.

WHY PLANT IT: Starting in late winter, Humpty Dumpty produces clublike inflorescences, each with a dome of small flowers set off by lime green bracts, an eye-catching effect that lasts well into June. At about the same time, new shoots emerge, holding narrow, gray-green leaves.

WHERE: Humpty Dumpty grows best in well-drained soil in full sun and is drought tolerant once established. Shoots emerge one year, bloom the next and then die.

HOW: Remove flower shoots at the base of the plant when they no longer look attractive. Take care not to damage new shoots in the process. Shoots remain all winter, making the plant evergreen.

Humpty Dumpty combines well with perennials such as blue oat grass, giant needle grass, maiden grass, bear’s breeches, stinking hellebore and digger’s speedwell. Plant it with shrubs such as smoke bush, purpleleaf barberry, ceanothus and bay laurel.

CAUTION: White sap in the stems can cause severe skin irritation. Wear gloves when removing stems.

ACTUAL SIZE: This perennial has a tidy, rounded shape that reaches up to 2 feet high and wide, about half the size of most euphorbias.

LEARN MORE: www.greatplantpicks.org.

Source: www.greatplantpicks.org