Gopher Spurge (Euphorbia lathyris) seeds, Organic

$3.95$13.10

Family:  Spurge (Euphorbiaceae)

Hardy to Zones 5 to 12

(Mole Plant, Caper Spurge, Gopher Plant, Paper Spurge, Petroleum Plant) Erect evergreen annual or biennial to 3 feet tall.  My plants in this Zone 7 garden almost always prove to be biennials.  Self-seeding.  Native to the Mediterranean basin and Europe, widely grown in gardens.  The plant is considered to be an invasive weed by some authorities, but most gardeners will grow it without fear.  It is a fascinating plant!  First and foremost, do be careful with all parts of this plant, which are filled with an acrid latex that will burn skin and eyes and cause great intestinal irritation if ingested.  Wash hands after handling the plant, especially if the latex gets on your hands.  If the latex gets in your eyes, then flush eyes immediately with a copious stream of fresh milk. Beyond the cautions, this is a really handsome, interesting and potentially useful plant.  The erect stem bears opposite pairs of lance-shaped leaves colored intensely blue-green.  The flowers are yellow, giving way to the sectioned pods that hold the seeds. The plant prefers full sun to part shade and does fine in regular garden soil or poor soil.  It is quite drought tolerant.  Sow seed in the spring, in pots or directly in the garden.  Cover with 1/2 inch of soil, tamp firmly and keep warm and moist until germination, which occurs in 1 to 6 weeks. Thin to a foot apart.
Packet contains 10 seeds
10 g contains ~230 seeds
Certified Organically Grown

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  1. 3 out of 3 people found this helpful
    Richo Cech

    Admin Richo Cech

    I have found that planting a row of gopher spurge at the perimeter of my garden does indeed discourage moles and gophers from entering.  In my experience this is one of the few things that actually works.  I am planting more of these handsome plant next year, the gophers do a lot of damage!  

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    • Nancy Maurelli

      Gopher spurge has volunteered in a partly shady spot that I have neglected in my backyard garden. Can I transplant it to edges of beds I wish to protect from moles and voles? AND what, exactly, is a gopher? THANKS.

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    • Richo Cech

      Admin Richo Cech

      Gophers are big-toothed, rat-like animals that eat vegetarian. You can transplant gopher spurge, but it is monocarpic and will go away after flowering. Richo

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    • Stuart

      I planted a few seeds in a germination tray. They got so long (8-9inches) that they are really bending over. I am supposed to clip these or just let them go? First timer, if it is not already obvious!

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    • Richo Cech

      Richo Cech

      Hi Stuart,
      No, they’ll harden up once you get them out in the dry sun. Don’t prune them now, that wouldn’t be good.
      r

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    • PAMELA MELLOR

      I have some in my garden. I didn’t put out seeds. I do however have trouble with burrowing pests in other parts of my garden. When do they produce seeds so can put it in other parts of my yard. Its only early May and a couple of them are 2 to 3 feet tall

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    • Richo Cech

      Richo Cech

      Hi Pamela,
      This really depends on how much of a head-start they get in the garden. Sounds like your’s will flower and make seedpods this year. If they start too late, they tend to act like a biennial.
      Richo

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    • Rebecca Goodrich

      What type of soil does this plant like?

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    • Richo Cech

      Richo Cech

      Hi Rebecca, Clay, rock, sand, gravel or loam, it makes little difference, its a Euphorb and knows not to be picky. r

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    • jennifer

      sorry. not clear to me: does this plant re-seed itself or do i need to help it – collect seeds, plant, etc.?

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    • Richo Cech

      Richo Cech

      These unique plants are dependable and visible self-seeders.

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    • One person found this helpful

      Colleen De Maio

      I have found a related plant, euphorbia peplus, to be one of the ONLY things in my entire garden that gophers won’t eat. I used to pull it, but now allow it to be a “filler” plant throughout my herb garden and the gophers have mainly abandoned that area. The frilly lime green foliage has grown on me. How useful these pesky “weeds” can sometimes prove to be!

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    • One person found this helpful

      Henry

      Once the flowers run their course, do not cut them off, let them produce their fabulous seed pods and BOOM, you have more.

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