Cushion spurge (Euphorbia polychrome) is a herbaceous perennial flower that is a portion of the Euphorbiaceae family, the same family as the Christmas poinsettia. It’s hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. Growing from 1 1/2 to 2 feet tall, this plant creates leaves, which turn purple in the fall. Throughout the summer and spring, it produces clusters of yellow flowers surrounded by bracts. Spurge is long lived and easy to look after, but it might spread beyond limits if its flowers are not pruned.

Timing

The reason is depended upon by the timing for pruning cushion spurge. The plants. Healthy plants must be pruned before they set seeds and after the flowers fade, to reduce any unwanted spread. After the growing season, spurge should be left alone to provide interest in the backyard and cut back in early spring to shape the crops. No matter the season, diseased parts of plants must be removed entirely and lost.

Timing

The stems of pillow spurge produce a milky sap that may be poisonous when ingested, warns the University of California Sonoma County Master Gardeners, is debilitating when it gets into eyes and may irritate skin. Caution should be used when handling these crops; wear long sleeves and gloves after handling the plants and wash up promptly.

Deadheading

Deadheading reduces the opportunity of spurge spreading by self-seeding. Deadheading entails removing flowers, by simply pinching the spent blossoms off or snipping them off with garden shears. Using garden shears sanitized to prune and shape the spurge. Eliminating about a third of those stems encourages the plant. In the fall, weak or any brownish stems need to be eliminated.

Cleanup

From kids or animals, cleaning the area of reduces the chance of contact or intake after pruning. While some diseased parts need to be lost, Provided that the parts of the plant are all healthy, they may be added to the compost pile. Gardening shears must be washed in warm water and wiped with a paper towel or cloth in rubbing alcohol to remove any residue of the milky sap of the spurge saturated.

See related