Monday the temperatures returned to the highs of August (mid 30’s°C) and it was forecast that the rest of the week would be the same – that didn’t happen, but it has been pleasantly warm/cool to work in the garden at last.
The garden is showing signs of the second spring I sometimes talk about; the evergreen trees are putting on new growth (I need to quickly prune those that I don’t want to get too large!). The good thing is that there has been time to walk around the garden and see what is happening, what needs to be done and enjoy the renewed energy that I feel when the temperatures drop below 30°C.
I have shown you Euphorbia rigida many times; mostly in early spring when it produces the startling acid green inflorescence that brightens the whole garden. I originally bought one of these plants at a plant fair a little miffed that such an ordinary plant in a 9cm pot had cost €9.
Euphorbia rigida
But the plant was a bargain – it loves the conditions in my dry, free draining soil and each year produces literally hundreds of seedlings in the gravel paths and some in the borders. I always pot up or move some of these free plants and this year I put 100 into modules to plant out this autumn; I then gave at least another hundred to someone who had just started a nursery.
In winter, if it is very cold the foliage takes on a pink hue which is very attractive.
Euphorbia rigida
But you may imagine my surprise when discovering a ‘seedling’ that had grown in the border in just the right place, but that is always a delightful pinkish purple.
Euphorbia rigida a new cultivar?
So am I fortunate enough to have discovered a new cultivar, will it make me rich?
Euphorbia rigida a new cultivar?
If/when it flowers will its offspring be the same amazing colour?
Can I reproduce the plant by cuttings? the only sure way to have identical plants.
Euphorbia rigida a new cultivar?
Have you ever found a new cultivar in your garden, what did you do?
Creating my own garden of the Hesperides 
Lovely variation Christina. I’d try cuttings of it in pots. I’ve never been lucky enough to find a new form of anything (although I have a little dark-leaved geranium that must have come from a green-leaved form and now self-sows very happily).
I’ve never had the need to try cuttings from Euphorbia, but I suppose it might take in a similar way to Sedum?
That’s right. Very, very gritty (almost stoney), well-drained compost. Little shoot tips. Have a good weekend!
Thanks
I’ve never had the need to take cuttings from a Euphorbia but it might work in a similar way to Sedum.
How exciting. I am always looking for and hoping for something new and different to crop up. Sometimes I find slight variations, but never anything as different or dramatic as this. It is gorgeous, good luck with it. Do try some cuttings from some of the shorter shoots.
Good tip thank you
How exciting, Christina. I hope you make a great deal of money!
I very much doubt it but I will try to reproduce it if only for my garden!
The Christina Pink Euphorbia? I had some Phlox cross into a beautiful mildew free white rebloomer in my former garden and looked into plant patents, way too much trouble. Still in my former garden.
I’m sure you’re right, but a girl can dream, can’t she?
Sell the rights and make them name it after you!
There’s a thought!
I do hope that your fortune is made, you never know! People will say of you, “She made her money in Euphorbias.”
😁😉😉
It is always exciting to find an unusual seedling or sport in the garden. One does wonder about whether it’s reproducible. Maybe make a cutting and try it somewhere else in the garden to see if it the location or genetic (nature vs. nurture). The seedlings would take longer, but worth seeing if they come true. You might really have something there! Euphorbia rigida ‘Christina’ 🙂
The seedless MGS grow on very quickly and one plant produces masses , but a cutting would be genetically identical.
Sometimes it is the soil conditions that affect the plant’s color, that’s why I suggested another spot in the yard to see if that was the case. I look forward to seeing the outcome of your experiment. 🙂
Yes, I wondered about that too. If I manage to strike any cuttings I’ll certainly try them in different places.
If you can get that color to stabilize when propagated, you may indeed have a fortune in the offing! I’ve had “mutant” plants (a crested Senna, 2-headed dahlias, and most recently virus-affected Pelargonium flowers) but I don’t think I have anything sale-able.
P.S. For fun a ran an on-line search for a pink Euphorbia rigida and surfaced an exchange on the Mediterranean Garden Society’s forum page referencing sightings of these in Greece. You might want to check it out at mgsforum dot org (topic 1463.0).
Thanks for that. I didn’t think of doing that, I should have.
Christina your Euphorbia rigid purple rosacea is very beautiful, beautiful, a treasure. Just as they bloom, they have pollinated it only with pollen from a pink or red purple plant and the miracle has taken place. Is not that how new plant varieties are achieved? Try planting some cutting that does not affect the main plant in pots or on the ground but from another place, because even the soil where it is planted can also influence the color. I once had white daisies that were close to red roses, and some very strong pink daisies appeared. Christina I am very happy for you and for your plant: you must be very happy. And I’m also glad for the weather you have, enjoy it. Mine is similar. Have a great week. Take care. Greetings from Margarita.
Oh how exciting Christina 🙂 Will keep my fingers crossed for you that this plant does turn out to be unique and that one day it will appear in ‘The Plant Finder’. My biggest excitement this year has been a white ‘Jacob’s Ladder’ appearing in the middle of several blue flowered ones. I’ve grown the blue one for years but never the white.
Fame may be yours…fortune, probably not.
Probably not even fame!
Oh that is so exciting! I grow E rigida at work in chalky soil which suits it very well but never had a variation like yours, I love it. Good luck with cuttings but perhaps don’t give up the day job just yet!😉
I haven’t tried yet, must think about doing it!