My favorite plant this week: Euphorbia 'Dean's Hybrid'

The return of summer heat in our area has taken a toll on the appearance of a lot of my plants, especially the flowering ones.  My roses look downright sad, with the blooms withering almost as soon as they open.  Even Coreopsis 'Redshift,' which has been blooming heavily for weeks, looks a little wilted.  It may be that I've been too stingy with the water this summer but, if you saw our last water bill, I'm sure you'd understand.  We discovered two leaks the week before last, which may account for the stratospheric charges on this month's bill but, until I can be sure of that, I'm metering out the extra water very carefully.

Strolling through my garden, I wasn't sure there was anything I could call my "favorite" this week - until I walked down the stairs of my slope and saw Euphorbia 'Dean's Hybrid.'  Nothing on the hot, dry slope looks particularly good at the moment - except this plant.  It's thriving even though none of the plants down there are irrigated automatically and they recently went a good 2 weeks without water when I was preoccupied with other tasks.

I put 5 of these plants in on the slope last year.  I lost one but it self-seeded nearby.  I cut back a few of these last week when their blooms turned tawny and they're already producing new foliage.  The foliage of this Euphorbia is soft and fern-like with a blue-ish tint.

New foliage is coming in at the base of this plant which I cut back just a week ago

The one plant I haven't yet cut back has turned into a behemoth, overwhelming the Ribes viburnifolium 'Catalina Perfume Currant' next to it.

The seedling hasn't bloomed yet but it looks healthy.

I planted a few of these Euphorbia in my backyard border as well back in May.  They haven't assumed the size of those on the slope but perhaps they just need more time in the ground - or maybe this plant actually prefers the abuse it received on the back slope.

Euphorbia planted in May next to Coreopsis 'Tahitian Sunset'

'Dean's Hybrid' grows up to 30 inches tall and 2 feet wide.  It's hardy in USDA zones 7a-10b.  It makes do with occasional water and needs full to partial sun.  Removing the stems when the flowering bracts become tawny will keep new foliage coming.  As with any Euphorbia, you need to be careful of the milky sap produced when a stem is cut as it causes skin irritation.

In addition to the ferny foliage, the plant produces bright, acid yellow blooms in spring and again in mid-summer.  The bracts gradually fade to a light yellow, eventually taking on a muted tan/orange shade.

'Dean's Hybrid" sporting its signature chartreuse bracts in May

Euphorbia 'Dean's Hybrid' is my contribution to the "favorite plant of the week" meme sponsored by Loree of danger garden.  You can see Loree's current favorite plant and find links to favorites posted by other gardeners here.