| leafy spurge | USDA PLANTS Symbol: EUES U.S. Nativity: Exotic Habit: Forbs/Herbs |
| Euphorbia esula L. |
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Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Euphorbiales: Euphorbiaceae |
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| Synonym(s): wolf's milk | |
| Native Range: Europe (BAIL); | |
Leafy spurge is an erect, perennial, herbaceous plant that grows from 2 to 3.5 ft. (0.6-1.1 m) tall. Leaves are oval-shaped, smooth and 1-4 in. (2.5-10.2 cm) long. The plant produces a milky sap if stem is broken or a leaf is removed. The stem is smooth and bluish-green. Flowering occurs in the late spring (and sometimes the late summer), when yellow flowers develop in clusters at the apex of the plant. Fruits are 3 lobed capsules that explode when mature, spreading seeds up to 15 ft. (4.6 m). Large infestations give the landscape a yellowish tinge due to the yellow bracts. Leafy spurge invades prairies, pastures and other open areas. It is a major pest of national parks and nature preserves in the western United States. It can completely overtake large areas of land and displace native vegetation. Leafy spurge is native to Europe and was introduced accidentally into North America in the early 1800s as a seed contaminate. |
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Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources
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| Selected Images from Invasive.org | View All Images at Invasive.org |
 Foliage; Richard Old, XID Services, Inc., Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; Foliage of leafy spurge at peak of fall coloring. William M. Ciesla, Forest Health Management International, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Close up of flower, near Fort Collins. William M. Ciesla, Forest Health Management International, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; Richard Old, XID Services, Inc., Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); Roots Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); Roots Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Richard Old, XID Services, Inc., Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); In grain Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); in flower Norman E. Rees, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Utah State University Archive, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Meadow in Rist Canyon, west of Fort Collins, invaded by leafy spurge. William M. Ciesla, Forest Health Management International, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Research; research site Norman E. Rees, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Infestation; Todd Pfeiffer, Klamath County Weed Control, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
| EDDMapS Distribution: This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts and records obtained from USDA Plants Database. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org |
 State(s) Where Reported invasive. Based on state level agency and organization lists of invasive plants from WeedUS database. |
