Euphorbia esula (Leafy Spurge): Minnesota Wildflowers

Euphorbia esula (Leafy Spurge)

Plant Info
Also known as:
Genus:	Euphorbia
Family:	Euphorbiaceae (Spurge)
Life cycle:	perennial
Origin:	Europe
Status:	Invasive - ERADICATE! Noxious Weed Prohibited or Restricted species
Habitat:	sun; fields, along roads, disturbed soil
Bloom season:	May - September
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

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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 is generally a smaller plant with leaves smaller, more crowded on the stem and needle-like.

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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.

Posted by: TJ in Andover
on: 2011-05-24 08:51:59

I have leafy spurge that I have treated with an insect that I received from the MN Department of Agriculture. We have an acre of land that is left to grow naturally. A neighbor had a large patch growing in her yard and wouldn't do anything about it when I told her it was a MN noxious weed. I couldn't find anywhere to report this so she would kill it. It naturally moved to my property. I can't really tell how successful the insects have been but the MDA tells me that as long as there is spurge, the insects will stay around.

Posted by: K. Chayka
on: 2011-05-24 10:36:21

I believe leafy spurge is one of the three species for which MN has a biological control at this time. The other two are spotted knapweed and purple loosestrife. Garlic mustard may be coming soon.

As I understand it, while the bio agents can make a dent in the weed population, they won't likely eradicate it, and if they do it will take a number of years. So you'll probably have leafy spurge for a long time. :-(