Snow On The Mountain (Euphorbia marginata): Complete Care And Growing Guide

The Snow on the Mountain (Euphorbia marginata) plant is also known as Mountain Snow spurge. Unlike many of the plants in the spurge family, this ornamental plant is an annual. It is native to North America where it grows wild in temperate regions. The plant’s United States Department of Agriculture hardiness range is 2-11. In Europe, it has naturalized in certain areas, making it a nuisance weed. This Euphorbia is an easy plant to grow and reseeds itself year after year.

Characteristics

This spurge grows on a single stem 1-3 feet ( .3-.9 m.) tall, with many branches. The young leaves are green but develop white margins. Mature variegated foliage can turn entirely white. From mid-summer into fall, small greenish yellow flowers form, flanked by bright, white bracts. While Snow on the Mountain flowers are not showy, the bracts highlight their form and make an attractive display. The sap from the plant can be extremely irritating to skin. It is used as an ornamental, part of a meadow planting, and in containers. Groundcover Snow on the Mountain provides a vertical cover that attracts pollinators and conserves moisture during the growing months.

Light

The Euphorbia Snow on the Mountain is native to the prairies from Minnesota and the Dakotas, to Colorado and Texas. In the wild it occurs in waste sites, prairies, and roadsides, generally in areas with little tree cover. In the garden, plant Snow on the Mountain in areas with at least 6 hours of sunlight. The plants will get leggy in too much shade, but they do prefer some shading during the scorching midday light.

Water

In the wild, this spurge can thrive in sites with little water during the growing season. In the garden, it may be grown in either moist or dry sites, provided the soil is well draining. Newly installed plants or seedlings benefit from regular watering until the plant has matured.

Temperature & Humidity

Euphorbia generally don’t need a lot of humidity, but they can tolerate such conditions. The ideal temperature range for Snow on the Mountain plant is 65-80 F. (18-27 C.). Once the cool temperatures of fall come in, the plant will begin to die back.

Soil

Euphorbia plants require very well-drained soil. This variety is tolerant of clay, limestone, sandy, chalky, and loam soils. In the wild they tend to grow in very poor soils, rocky, with little nutrient content.

Fertilizer

Spurge does not need supplemental feeding to grow, but a spring application of nitrogen plant fertilizer will fuel the development of the beautifully variegated leaves. Too much fertilizer will cause lengthening of stems and a rangy appearance.

Problems, Pests & Diseases

Snow on the Mountain has no serious pest or disease issues. Plants grown in boggy sites will get root rot. Root rot in garden plants is not as common as in houseplants, but it is still a possibility. Occasionally, aphids can be a problem. The sap is extremely irritating and gloves should be used when working with the plant. Most animals do not eat the plant as it is toxic, but mourning doves eat the seeds with no ill effect. Honey bees who collect the plant’s nectar make honey that is called “jalapeño honey” because it burns the throat.

How to Plant Snow on the Mountain

Plant Euphorbia marginata in well-draining soil, either in the ground or in containers. Keep the soil moderately moist while the plant is establishing.

Pruning

The Euphorbia only needs pruning to remove damaged stems. It can become a nuisance due to self seeding, so in areas of concern, prune off the flowers as they occur to prevent seed set.

Propagation

Sow seeds directly in the ground after it is workable, or start them indoors 6-8 weeks before the last expected frost. Expect germination in 10-14 days where temperatures are 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit ( 18-24 C.). Germination is considered to be erratic, so it is a good idea to plant more seeds than desired plants.

Is The Snow On The Mountain Plant Invasive?

In ideal conditions, this spurge will reseed itself voraciously. Because of this, it is considered a plant of concern in non-native ranges. In the garden, it can take over an area. This is a desirable situation for using it as ground cover. Snow on the Mountain might be used for small, single plantings, though, and it can spread more than the gardener wants.

How to Get Rid of Snow on the Mountain

Hand digging is useful to remove a few plants, but in areas where the spurge has taken over, a foliar herbicide may be used. Introduce a surfactant to the mixture to ensure coating of the leaves. Alternatively, the area may be covered in black plastic for several months to kill off the plants.

Frequently Asked Questions