Euryops
( yew - ree - ops )
At-A-Glance InformationThis shrub, commonly called Bush Daisy, has a profuse, long-lasting show of yellow daisy flowers and loves full sun. A native to rocky areas in South Africa, this shrub takes little to regular water, and needs very good drainage to perform well. Old flower heads should be dead-headed regularly to improve appearance. These plants thrive in ocean winds, but are damaged by frost. Euryops shrubs are wonderful additions to Mediterranean gardens, rustic plantings and rock gardens. Their yellow flowers are also great in border flower beds.
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Euryops Species and Varietals
The genus Euryops is a member of the Aster family of plants (Asteraceae) and includes around 50 species of flowering shrubs. The genus name Euryops probably comes from the Greek words for wide (eurys) and eye (opsis). Euryops growing zones vary by species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
Euryops pectinatus (Grey-Leaved Euryops) Grows to 3-6 feet tall and wide in zones 8, 9, 12-24, H1 and H2. Very easy to care for and grow, and is great as a filler, background plant or low hedge-screen. Gray-green leaves and yellow daisies. Needs shearing in early spring to limit size. Varieties include 'Viridis' (deep green leaves), and 'Munchkin' (gray-green foliage; grows to 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide). |
Caring for and pruning Euryops shrubs
Caring for Euryops is simple; they need well-draining soil that is kept moist, and prefer to be planted in full sun. They are not picky about soil type, but do like a soil pH of between 6.1 and 7.5 (neutral to acidic). Fertilize your Euryops shrub every year in springtime with an all-purpose fertilizer, and prune each winter, taking the plant down to its base. It will regrow come springtime. These plants are woody-based, so after a few seasons they may need to be replaced.
Propagation
Euryops can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your shrub, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Euryops by Cutting
Propagating Euryops by Seed
Propagating Euryops by Cutting
- Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
- In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
- Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
- Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.
Propagating Euryops by Seed
- Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
- Harvest your seeds. Once flower heads have dried out and seeds are visible (see the photos below), you can cut the flower heads off the plant, collect them, place them in a paper bag, and shake to release. Store seeds in a cool, dry area in a sealed container until you are ready to work with them.
- Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 14-21 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
- Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Problems and Pests
Euryops, although generally issue-free, is susceptible to the following issues and pests:
- Nemotodes
Gallery
Videos
A short video all about Euryops shrubs.
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How to prune woody perennial plants, such as Euryops.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 317, Euryops
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