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![Image of Euphorbia Miner's Merlot ['KM-MM024'] PP32,321](https://www.smgrowers.com/imagedb/EuphorbiaMiner'sMerlot.jpg )
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| Category: Perennial |
| Family: Euphorbiaceae (Spurges) |
| Flower Color: Chartreuse |
| Bloomtime: Winter/Summer |
| Parentage: (E. amygdaloides 'Purpurea' x E. Blackbird?) |
| Height: 1-2 feet |
| Width: 1-2 feet |
| Exposure: Sun or Shade |
| Deer Tolerant: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 0-10° F |
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Euphorbia Miner's Merlot ['KM-MM024'] PP32,321 (Miner's Merlot Wood Spurge) - A vigorous evergreen to semi-evergreen perennial with a mounding rounded habit to 2 feet tall by about an equal width. It has strong upright stems that emerge from the plant base and hold narrow 3 to 4 inch long linear-oblanceolate leaves in whorls that first emerge a dark wine red color. Older leaves turn dark green with age but the red coloration is retained on the back side of the upturned leaves through spring and summer, so the overall color of the plant remains very dark red in appearance and all foliage deepens in color to a near black dark burgundy color at the onset of colder temperatures in fall. The long lasting inflorescences first appear in late winter in our climate, rising above the foliage in branched cymes with the small flowers held in umbels subtended by showy chartreuse to yellow bracts that are striking against the dark burgundy colored foliage well into the summer months. Plant in full to part sun in a well-drained soil and give regular to occasional irrigation. Reportedly tolerates reflected heat and is hardy in U.S.D.A. Zones 6 to 11. It is moderately drought tolerant and deer seem to avoid it, likely because broken stems exude the typical Euphorbia latex that can be toxic and irritating to the skin - best to use gloves when trimming any such plant. Euphorbia Miner's Merlot is an attractive and useful plant in a container, perennial bed, border or within a meadow planting and the flowering stems are useful in arrangements. This plant was discovered growing as a spontaneous chance seedling in a garden in Plumas Lake, California in 2015 by Keith and Jen Miner. Though parentage is not known for sure, there were plants of Euphorbia amygdaloides 'Purpurea' and Euphorbia Blackbird ['Nothowlee'] growing nearby in this garden, so speculation is that this plant might be a cross between these plants, with this seedlings characteristics supporting this. It shares the dark coloration of E. amygdaloides 'Purpurea' but is a larger more reliable plant with stronger stems and is noted as being larger and deeper color than E. Blackbird ['Nothowlee'], particularly when grown in shade and also in cooler weather when Miner's Merlot really deepens in color. It is also noted as more disease resistant than both of these possible parents. It received US Plant Patent PP32,321 in October 2020 and was introduced into the industry the following year by Pacific Plug and Liner nursery in Watsonville, California. Picture on this page from Pacific Plug and Liner.
The information about Euphorbia Miner's Merlot ['KM-MM024'] PP32,321 displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |
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