I suppose that IS a possibility ,Neal...but I doubt it....crimson King seems to be one of the real survivers, and grows almost everywhere., and Star Shine, the one I "keep trying",has always been very small chunks, from leftover sales. I believe the problem I'm having now is either Botrytis rhizome rot, or crown rot....some seem to show symptoms of one, some the other, and most show a 'combination ' ....ie; symptoms of both ! I pretty much had the beginings of the problem last season, starting in early spring, and actually thought I had it under control, using 'over the counter fungicides, and some "homemade "ones from an old gardening book. The soft, or" rotten" main rhizomes, and solid side increases are what I saw last year. I felt that by removing the rot, and treating for the fungus, I had " saved " them....but ,obviously, I was wrong !! I'll keep experimenting, treating, scraping, and replanting.....and hoping

What if the old mother rhizome is getting soft but not mushy (no rot) and the last-year increases are firm and healthy, should you dig out the old one just in case it is going bad? My Louisa's Song has a soft old mother and I do not want to mess up the new ones. Advice? I think this is going on its third year.

Greg - sorry about Downtown Brown. I have a bunch of increases so can send you some to plant if you want to try again.

Pep Rally breathed its last. I will try this one again.

The old mother rhizome won't bloom again, so I would get rid of it.

I might have some Pep Rally for you Leslie.. I'll have to check.. I had a nasty weed growing in the middle of it last year.

In case you're wondering.. this is what Pep Rally should look like..


and this is what it looks like with some herbicide drift...


....and a gentle warning to never, ever plant Euphorbia cyparissias. It has evil roots that spread in the quiet of winter when the tops are dormant... I dug and sifted the whole area 2 years ago, and still had lots to deal with last year... After I dug a second time... I resorted to Weed-be-gone with the few sprouts that came back up... I'm waiting to see how much comes back this year.. You haven't lived until you get Euphorbia sap in your eye... The pain is right up there with childbirth. I will never plant another one..

Uuuuggg that Euphorbia is a terrible thug! Never had the sap in my eye, but will be extra diligent in avoiding it now! As much as I dug out last fall, I'm prepared for the battles to begin any time now....

A neighbor up the street has creeping spurge. In the 11 years we've been here it has gone from 3 small plantings to this. I see them mowing it down in the lawn, too.

I also have Euphorbia robbiae... Someone who's opinion I trusted recommended it as a great plant for dry shade.. That's the one that got in my eye...

I would love Pep Rally - if you end up with some extra, please let me know.

Now to go look up Euphorbia..... Not that I will ever have "dry shade" that it would grow in, but just in case!

Oh good heavens, every part of that plant is poisonous! Think I will steer way clear of spurge!

On the plus side, the deer don't like it... which may have been part of my reasoning when I planted it, pre-deer fence.

Are all Euphorbias invasive? I was thinking I'd like to try this one...has anybody grown it?

Just some Euphorbias are invasive, I believe most are not. I haven't grown that cultivar, but don't think its a thug, from reports from other gardeners.

@rcn48 may be able to answer your question about shrubby Euphobias.

Add another:

Braggadocio

I lost the main bloom stalk to soft rot. It has 4 or 5 medium sized increases, so let's see what it does next year. (Hopefully I cut out ALL of the rot)

Marilyn, regarding Euphorbias.. My experience has been that they either run or self sow... The self-sowers are easier to control, but some of them produce a lot of seed, and the seed seems to stay viable for many years. I think the one you're interested in might be a little less unruly in the seeding dept. I also wonder if the seedlings will remain true.

Lost a "Jargon", but I have about 10 others, so I should see maybe 4 to 6 blooms.

Both Miss Meredith and Legolas are not doing well. They are still alive but have not put on any new fans this year. MM is a turquoise one by Don Spoon that I really wanted to see bloom and Legolas is a Dee Stewart iris and is only eight inches high. I like the short ones with the SDB blooms. I hope these two rebound. I may dig and pot them. I did this with Enchanted Princess after dramatic losses last year and she has survived, put on two increases and has one tiny little bloom stalk. I hope she thrives this year. At least these two, MM and L, are not too hard to find if I lose them. I hate losing one that is difficult to find. Anyone grow Reluctant Dragin?

Hi everyone1

I spent last weekend, cultivating around my iris and I've never seen so much ROT before. The only thing I noticed that was consistent was the rebloomers got it the worst. I don't know if it was because they bloomed into November and had no chance for recovery or what. Here's what I think I have lost:
Slovak Prince never bloomed although I've had it for 5 years
Abby Road
one bunch of Total Recall, but I have another
??And Away We Go - doesn't look too good
Rosalie Figge after blooming it's socks off for the first year
Billionaire same as above
Red Masterpiece
One bunch of Vapor but I have another
Crowned Heads
Clarence
Jumping Jack Flash
Oblivion
Madiera

I quite often have had "rot' issues in the re bloomer beds....but,here at least, it seems to be a "different" rot....I* think* the reason is the 'un-bloomed "stalks that had started the previous fall, and, the stalks that DID bloom, and were removed, never had time to "scab over". That "condition" seldom seems to hurt them very much, long term, but, it's still not a good thing ! I'm going to dig and separate one rebloomer bed this year, and I will have some Clarence......it's one that seemed to come through the winter in fine shape....so if you want some, just let me know. That's the only one I grow, of what you have lost. *mail* me if you want any.