Normally I would dismiss an annual that has flowers as small as Diamond Frost, but growing this plant has made me a raving fan. I think you too will become a fan of this plant once you’ve grown it.
Diamond Frost is an easy to grow annual that performs in most any climate, and has was won awards across the country to prove it. It is a low billowing plant that reaches about 20 inches in height and width. The small white flowers are so abundant that the cumulative mass of flowers creates a beautiful show akin to Baby’s Breath. What is most remarkable is that this plant bloomed from the day I planted it until the day I had a heavy frost in my garden. It is a blooming machine. Its soft white flowers seem to compliment any plant in proximity, making it very versatile.
It is great planted in a large solid block or mixed with other annuals, perennials or shrubs. It is superb in mixed containers or hanging baskets. Space the plants about a foot apart and you will get a full display within weeks.
Diamond Frost is heat and drought tolerant, and requires no more care than planting and the occasional watering. There is no need to dead-head or to groom this gem.
Is this an Armitage introduction? He pushed this one at a talk he gave recently...!
ReplyDeleteI know that Allen is a fan of this plant but I don't think he developed it.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting note: I saw some awesome Poinsettias at my local grocery store that were grown in combination with Diamond Frost. This could give new life to a holiday plant. Great Idea.
I bet that was a stunning combo! (not one of those new cultivars of "blue" poinsettia, I hope??!!)
ReplyDeleteIt's my 3rd summer growing it. I bring inside for the winter. It makes a great houseplant.
ReplyDeleteThank you, anonymous! This was just the information I was looking for: I have brought this plant indoors for the winter yet am wondering how to site in this dry northern (zone 5a/USDA 4)indoor winter - such a lovely plant.
ReplyDeleteI just bought a diamond frost euphorbia plant today. I'm nursing it back to health. Is it better to put it in a pot, the ground, or a hanging basket?
ReplyDeleteHOW TO DIVIDE DIAMOND PLANT???????????
ReplyDeleteDiamond Frost Euphorbia normally has one stem and does not sucker, so it is not a plant that divides well. It grows well in containers, baskets and in the ground.
ReplyDeleteTim's right it's in fact a "woody" shrublet and it doesn't sucker, also not a perennial. So you can't divide.....or can you? If grown as a permanent shrub (not an annual) taking cutting is the way to go but it's also possible to divide as you do.
DeleteDown at the base it forms thickened areas around the stems after a season or two sometimes before, almost like galls, but not of course. If you snip just bellow the thickening taking the branch with it and plant insitu (where it will be grown) that roots very easily. To stabilise it you can shorten the top part leaving at least a few nodes, the stems above a cut node drop off like skinny matchsticks back to the last node where leaves will sprout. You can also just break the plant apart down around the thickened stems to divide. Alternatively you can cover the flattened base in soil, all the thickened stems, they will root then you can simply break the entire plant up into pieces. Its quite brittle and will break up easily.
So you can divide but they're not technically root divisions.