General Culture:
Best grown in dry, well-drained soils in full sun. Quite tolerant of poor soils, including rocky, sandy ones. Eight to ten plants per square yard are sufficient to quickly form a dense ground cover. Spreads by rhizomes and can be quite invasive, particularly in rich, moist soils. Also freely reseeds.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Cypress spurge is an erect, branching, rhizomatous perennial which typically grows to 12" tall and can rapidly spread to form a bushy ground cover. Numerous tiny flowers appear in umbel-like clusters in spring. Flowers lack petals and sepals, and primarily consist of showy lime-yellow bracts which age to red. Narrow, bluish-green, linear leaves (to 1.5" long). Stems and leaves contain a milky sap which is poisonous. Plant foliage superficially resembles that of a tiny spruce or cypress tree, hence the common name.
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems. Invasiveness can be a significant problem, particularly if plants are grown in close proximity to valuable garden perennials.
Uses:
Best as a ground cover on dry, sunny slopes or other sunny areas that are well-spaced from perennial plantings. Probably too invasive for the border.
© Missouri Botanical
Garden, 2001-2010
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