Cypress Euphorbia: planting and care
Cypress euphorbia is often used in landscaping and has medicinal properties. This perennial is unpretentious, grows rapidly in open ground. We offer you to learn about the rules of planting, methods of reproduction and the intricacies of caring for the plant.
Botanical description of the plant
Perennial cypress euphorbia is a representative of the euphorbia family, originally from Europe. The plant is grassy, gray-green stems are straight, branching, 15 to 30 cm high. Narrow, oblong green leaves with a bluish tinge, 1.5 to 2.5 cm long and about 0.5 cm wide, are shaped like needles of needles .
On the tops of the stems are small bell-shaped flowers-glasses, collected in umbrella-shaped inflorescences. Fragrant yellow-green flowers appear in late spring - early summer. Sometimes cypress cypress can bloom a second time a year, in September. In place of the flowers, oval, tuberous three-apical fruits about 3 mm long are formed.
Did you know? The second name of the cypress milkweed is euphorbia, in honor of the king of Macedonia, Eforb. In the year 50 BC, the king discovered the healing properties of the plant.
Healing properties
Cypress euphorbia is a poisonous plant. Its white juice is comparable in properties to the poison of a snake. But the correct use of juice in dilute form at the right dosage is used as a medicine.
Even in Ancient Egypt and Greece, this herb was treated. Often use not only the juice of the plant, but also its seeds. The seeds contain healthy fats that are used in homeopathy.
The main healing properties:
- external use of milk milk helps to get rid of warts and calluses on the skin, removes spots and freckles, heals lichen, heals wounds;
- alcohol tinctures are used to treat diseases of the stomach, lungs, they also help reduce rheumatic pain;
- warm baths with grass are used to get rid of nail fungus;
- Milkweed tincture has antibacterial properties, and it is used to fight cancerous tumors of internal organs;
- water infusion of herbs is a laxative and vomiting, it is also used to remove worms and treat kidneys and stomach.
Important! Medicines based on cypress milkweed should be taken with caution, adhere to the dosage and consult a doctor.
Landscape design
The dense foliage of milkweed and beautiful hemispherical inflorescences make it airy and attractive. It looks beautiful on its own and combines with other plants; it can also be a beautiful background for other flowers. Unpretentiousness and fast growth are the main advantages, also the advantage is that the grass is perennial.
Landscape designers often use this perennial to create:
- rock gardens;
- mixborders;
- arabesques;
- flower beds.
Euphorbia looks beneficial in the garden, around ornamental bushes and conifers, near arbors and benches, along paths. The low perennial looks beautiful all summer, against its bright, green background all spring and summer flowers are beautiful. With it create green borders and frame flower beds.
It should be remembered that euphorbia grows rapidly and can displace other flowers, so its growth must be controlled, otherwise it will “capture” the entire area.
Important! You can not use cypress cypress for the treatment of pregnant and lactating women, it is especially dangerous for the child's body.
Planting seedlings in open ground
Perennial well takes root in the open ground on any soil, does not tolerate waterlogging and loves sunlight. It grows better on light sandy soils. Before planting, the soil is enriched with complex organic fertilizers - you can use compost or peat.
The timing
Seedlings are planted in the spring, when the soil warms up, in April-May. It is possible in early September, so that before the onset of cold weather the euphorbia could take root.
Seat selection
It is better to choose a place lit or partial shade. A large number of sun rays makes euphorbia bright, lush and airy, it blooms beautifully.
In the shade, the perennial will develop poorly, it will have thin, weak stems without leaves, and it will not bloom. The plant is less demanding on the soil, but a light and nutritious soil with neutral acidity is better suited.
Scheme
Saplings are planted in prepared holes according to the 30x30 cm pattern. The depth of the hole should be 30 cm, its bottom is covered with pebbles, then a layer of wood sawdust or bark for drainage.
Cypress euphorbia is planted to a depth of 20 cm and is covered with soil mixed with humus or peat and sand. The soil is slightly moistened. It is recommended to plant seedlings carefully so as not to damage the root system, leave a lump of earth on the roots.
Important! All work with milkweed cypress produced in gloves, as the juice of the plant can cause skin irritation.
Care Tips
The plant is unpretentious and does not require special care. It tolerates drought well; excess moisture is harmful. It develops well in nutritious soil and needs fertilizing. Perennial pruned to form a beautiful bush, frequent transplants are not recommended, winter-hardy.
Watering
Euphorbia is drought tolerant and requires watering only in the hot summer. It is rarely watered, only if there has been no rain for a long time, the leaves have faded and the flower has begun to lose attractiveness.
Young, poorly rooted plants are also watered. You can use the surface method of watering using a watering can, while you can not allow overmoistening.
Fertilizer application
Fertilizers are best applied in early spring, especially humus or peat is useful for plants. If the soil is poor, you can make complex mineral fertilizers or top dressing from humus diluted with water several times during the summer.
Loosening and weed control
If necessary, weeding from weeds and light loosening of the soil for better air access. Did you know? Ancient Egyptians used cypress euphorbia for biting animals and insects, as well as for treating ulcers.
Pruning
It is necessary for the formation of the correct form of bushes and a neat appearance. It is made after flowering, also cut inflorescences.
This procedure contributes to the appearance of new flowers, lush and prolonged flowering. Dry, ugly stems are periodically removed.
Shelter for the winter
Euphorbia is frost-resistant, it will die without shelter if the temperature drops below –20 ° C. If there are no such frosts in the perennial growing region in winter, it is not necessary to cover it.
It is enough to cut dry and broken shoots in autumn, to make mulching with sawdust or peat. In a cold region, the plant is covered with a spruce or film for the winter.
Read also when, how and with what to cover roses for the winter.
Transfer
Perennial transplantation does not tolerate frequent transplants. It is recommended to transplant no more than once every 5 years, so as not to injure the root system and vegetation organs.
Breeding methods
The plant is well propagated by seeds. Cypress euphorbia can also be propagated using cuttings or division of rhizomes. Let's consider all methods in more detail.
Cuttings
Cuttings are prepared from chopped shoots. The sections are washed with water and sprinkled with activated carbon. Then the cuttings are placed in a moist mixture of nutrient soil with sand.
Rhizome division
Euphorbia can be propagated by dividing the rhizome into several parts. After separation, each part of the rhizome together with the earth is transplanted to a new place. This procedure is best performed in the spring, when young buds are visible, at least two buds should be on each part of the perennial.
Learn also how to breed thuja.
Seeds
The easiest and easiest way to reproduce. It is enough to sow the seeds in the open ground in autumn and cover with a layer of sawdust or humus on top. If sown in the spring, then the seeds must be kept in a cool place, seedlings appear after 2-3 weeks. Storing seeds in a warm place reduces the percentage of germination.
It is simple to grow cypress euphorbia in the open field. The plant is drought-resistant and frost-resistant, unpretentious, does not require frequent watering and frequent top dressing, and multiplies easily. With it, you can decorate any corner of the garden or flower bed and emphasize the beauty of other ornamental plants.
