Gopher plant blooming on schedule
March 10, 2014
Shrugging off the ice that set back other flowering plants last week, gopher plant (Euphorbia rigida) seemed to drawl a Matthew McConaughey “alright, alright, alright” and kept right on blooming.
Looking back at last year’s posts, I see that the gophers are flowering right on schedule.
A determined show of spring color despite a winter threatening to extend into mid-March.
Its chartreuse bracts electrify the garden…
…and pick up the sunny yellow of ‘Color Guard’ yucca.
I’m glad these gophers override the groundhog in declaring winter over.
The first brave Texas bluebonnet agrees.
Is anything declaring spring in your garden?
All material © 2006-2014 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Wow! Bluebonnets already. I tried to grow a Texas bluebonnet back when we lived in Massachusetts. It never bloomed.
The earliest bluebonnets are appearing on roadsides already, Alison, although the biggest show will likely be early April. We’re expecting a good display this year thanks to winter rains. —Pam
Speaking of all right all rights…. After seeing the wonderful photos of gopher plants on this blog (and Rock Rose as well) I’ve become a believer. I bought my first two and now only have to find just the right spot for them to establish themselves out front.
As to Declarations of Spring? The bluebonnets are blooming in multiples after that last rain, while the rosemary, vinca major and redbud blossoms sing backup. Once it is clear we are past further freeze warnings I can’t wait to get out and decide what to do with the “openings” created by the cold damage here and set my face towards the long hot summer to come.
Just give them lots of sun and sharp drainage, TexasDeb. Gopher plant does particularly well in blazing hot hell strips and on sunny slopes. It’ll survive in part sun but won’t look as good, and poor drainage will do it in. —Pam
Beautiful! I love those yellow flowers. I can just hear Matthew’s drawl as they shrugged off that cold weather;)
I’ve got some Bluebonnets starting to bloom, a flowering Quince blooming and the Oxalis is lush and full of blooms. All signs of Spring.
Yay for signs of spring! I’m ready to see more. —Pam
I finally planted one of these.
It’s not big, but I understand they spread pretty well.
They sure do, Linda — sprawl, more like. I cut mine back to the base rosette after they bloom. They recover quickly and look nice all summer and fall as well. —Pam
The mass of Euphorbia looks great, Pam. My garden never saw winter (and probably wouldn’t have recognized the kind of weather you’ve had). We seem to be motoring quite quickly toward summer.
We’ve had years like that, Kris. You’re right — the growth is incredible when you skip hard freezes. —Pam
I love the way those look – I have not seen them here for purchase yet :(…but when I do I will snap up a few for sure.
My signs of spring are my coral honeysuckle vine blooming and fresh new green growth on stuff I cut back…I am ready for more too!
Sounds like you need to make a nursery-shopping expedition to Austin, Heather. —Pam
Glad you mentioned cutting them back. I started mine last year from cuttings and tiny offshoots and celebrated every centimeter of growth. As I’d love for them to look as lovely as yours, will try to be brave this year and whack them back. Thanks again!
Just cut off the sprawling “arms” after they bloom, Vicki. The remaining rosette will continue to grow all summer and fall. —Pam
I have you to thank for introducing me to the gopher plant, which is blooming in my garden too. I was thrilled to find it coped with that terrible cold. I’m adding more! I don’t think I can wait for the seedlings!
Wasn’t it a joy to see it still blooming its little head off after the ice, Jenny? —Pam
The temperature declares spring every few days and then a cold front comes through and screams “Not yet!” The last one did some temporary damage.
Off topic, how much shade do your yuccas receive? It seems like some of them get quite a bit.
The ‘Color Guard’ yuccas get a half day of sun, but it’s blasting hot afternoon light. The softleaf yuccas and ‘Margaritaville’ yuccas get dappled shade. ‘Bright Edge’ gets midday to afternoon sun. Paleleaf yuccas get dappled shade. —Pam
Thanks. I have a green Yucca filamentosa that I was considering adding to an area that gets several hours of bright shade. Although I think variegated varieties can probably handle more shade.
Signs of spring in Dallas: In my garden golden groundsel and dandelions are blooming, and ‘Gorizia’ rosemary has been blooming for a month. Around town, early soulangeana Magnolias are finished, Bradford pears and flowering quince are winding down, and coral honeysuckle and Carolina jessamine are cranking up. Things are late this year, but they are blooming and growing. Spring is here! (fingers crossed).
It sounds like spring has definitely arrived in your garden, Peter. —Pam
Sweet violets…mmm, the scent! I had high hopes the gopher spurge would earn its name by repelling the scourge. Alas, no such luck.
I’ve had a number of people along the West Coast ask me whether it repels gophers. That’s maybe the only pest we don’t have here in central Texas, so I didn’t know. Too bad. But yay for the violets! —Pam
There is nothing like that acid yellow-green you get in Eurphorbia flowers. I am waiting for my E. wulfinii to bloom, but in the meantime the Narcissus are singing.
I wonder how those would look together? —Pam