Guide to growing garden plants - Euphorbia (annual) Ghost weed

Members of the Euphorbia genus can be either annual or perennial, as they are a large genus, they are split into two and this section is dedicated to the annual varieties.

These shrubby plants are grown fro their beautiful foliage by gardeners; this is usually bicoloured and includes red and green, and white and green.

The plants flower in the middle of summer and reach an height of about 45 to 60cm in height.

Some of the common names for Euphorbia include Ghost Weed, Annual Poinsettia, Fire in the Mountain, Mexican Fire plant, Spurge and Painted Leaf.

How to grow Ghost Weed (Euphorbia)

It is probably best to first grow Ghost weed and other annual Euphorbia members indoors first. Sow the seeds at a depth of about 6mm, about two months before they are due to put in the garden (after the last frost of spring. Euphorbia usually take about two to four weeks to germinate at a temperature of 21 to 24 degrees centigrade. They should be planted out with a spacing of between 30 and 45cm into a sunny part of the garden that has moist soil.

Caring for Euphorbia

It is important not to plant ghost weed and other Euphorbia members near to water features as they contain fish toxins that may leach.