"A public and private partnership working together to identify, contain, and control the spread of noxious and invasive plants in the Central Platte Valley area."

Leafy Spurge

Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family
Euphorbia esula L.

Introduced to the United States from Eurasia in 1827, Leafy spurge and has become a troublesome weed in North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and Nebraska. It inhabits at least three fourths of the counties in Nebraska and has been classified as a noxious weed by the Nebraska Seed Law and the Nebraska Noxious Weed Law.
Leafy spurge is an erect plant that grows 30 cm-1 meter tall with blue to green leaves and smooth margins. The flowers are umbel with yellow-green bracts that are heart shaped. The flowers are at the top of the plant arranged in clusters. Seeds are oblong and are gray or mottled with a dark line on one side. Leafy spurge is also distinguished from other plants by a white milky latex that fills every plant part.
image of leafy spurge Leafy spurge can tolerate many conditions, but is most aggressive when competition from native plants is reduced and soil moisture is dry. It is most prolific in disturbed areas of prairies, savannas, pastures, abandoned fields and roadsides. It has a huge impact on agriculture displacing many useful forage plants by shading and using available water supplies and nutrients. It also has plant toxins that prevent growth of plants below its canopy.

Once established, this aggressive weed will eventually start to take over huge open areas of land, which will eventually lead to decrease forage utilization until cattle cannot use any of the land. Leafy spurge also has plant toxins, which are harmful if not fatal to cattle. The density of leaf spurge can reach 200 or more stems per square meter.

Deep roots, with root buds and high seed dispersal make this plant very aggressive on prairies. Some root systems can reach up to 5 meters deep, with root buds that are capable of producing new shoots. The root system is woody which contains a large nutrient reserve that is capable of sustaining a plant for years. The 140 seeds per stem, will be thrust out of there pods up to 15 feet when the pop open. These seeds can also be transported by water and animals. Peak germination for leafy spurge is between April and May with seedlings reproducing within 7-10 weeks.

Plant facts

Common Name : Leafy Spurge

Growth Form : Herb

Life Span : Perennial

Origin : Europe and Asia

Flowering Dates : Yellow bracts open in late May or early June but actual flowers do not develop until mid-June.

Reproduction : Seeds and root buds forming new shoots

Height : 30cm to 1m

Inflorescence : Yellow to green in umbel pattern supporting 7-10 groups of flowers

Flowers : Yellow to green with 2 greenish yellow bracts

Leaves : Lower leaves, scale like and alternate; upper stem opposite and whorled

Underground : Deep taproot, extensive 2-3 meters deep

Where Found : Found mainly in the Northern states; mostly in disturbed areas of prairies, savannas, pastures, abandoned fields and roadsides

Uses and Values: No real value or use

Poisonings : Toxic to cattle and horses

Historical : Invasive around 1827, probably from seed stock

Resources:

Moomaw, R.S.; A.R. Martin; R.N. Stougaard, (1989). Leafy Spurge. NebGuide. http://ianrpubs.unl.edu/weeds/g834.htm#identification.

Sobhian, R.; J. Littlefield; M. Cristofaro; K. Mann. “Biology and host specificity of Spurgia capitigena (Bremi) (Dipt., Cecidomyiidae), for the Biological Control of Euphorbia esula L. in North America.” J. Appl. Ent. Vol. 124:333-338.