Euphorbia esula (Leafy Spurge): green Minnesota wildflowers

Euphorbia esula (Leafy Spurge)

Plant Info
Also known as:
Genus:	Euphorbia
Family:	Euphorbiaceae (Spurge)
Life cycle:	perennial
Origin:	Europe
Status:	Noxious Weed Prohibited or Restricted species
Habitat:	sun; fields, along roads, disturbed soil
Bloom season:	spring, summer
Plant height:	1 to 2 feet
USDA PLANTS database:	Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:	Battle Creek Regional Park Long Lake Regional Park Rice Creek Trail Corridor Vadnais/Snail Lake Regional Park

Pick an image for a larger view. Most image enlargements are 50-100KB, though some may be larger. See the glossary for icon descriptions.

Detailed Information

Flower:: Flat or convex clusters of inconspicuous 1/8-inch yellowish-green flowers with a pair of larger yellowish-green bracts that may look like round petals. A single plant may have several clusters on branching stems in the upper part of the plant.
Leaves and stem:: Narrow leaves 1 to 3 inches long, toothless, hairless, pointed at the tip; alternately attached with no leaf stem but may be whorled near the flowers. The main stem is smooth and green.
Fruit:: Fruit is a 3-parted capusle about 1/8 in diameter, each part containing a single seed.
Notes:: Leafy Spurge is on the noxious weed list for Minnesota and can be hard to eradicate. A similar species is Cypress Spurge (E. cyparissias), which has similar flowers but its leaves are more crowded and needle-like.

More photos

Photos taken at Long Lake Regional Park in New Brighton, MN, May-June 2009

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: Lisa R in Nevis (north central)
on: 2009-08-20 14:14:17

I've noticed a few of these along the Heartland Trail. I remember years ago when we were warned about this as a noxious weed, but I'm not seeing a lot of them now. Despite their noxious nature, they're a pretty little plant. (I think!)

Posted by: Meredith in Shoreview
on: 2010-05-06 18:21:33

This plant is all over the hill behind my house. I believe there is also Cyprus Spurge inter-mixed as well but I haven't found any that have bloomed yet.

Posted by: K. Chayka
on: 2010-05-10 17:39:15

I think Cypress spurge starts blooming about a month before leafy spurge does. If you see blooms now it is more likely Cypress spurge, but you could easily have both.

Posted by: Elaine in Brainerd
on: 2010-06-11 22:34:17

This is growing around the lake at Kiwanis Park in Brainerd - didn't know what it was until I found this site.