leafy spurge: Euphorbia esula (Euphorbiales: Euphorbiaceae)

leafy spurge
Euphorbiales > Euphorbiaceae > Euphorbia esula L.
Synonym(s): wolf's milk
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.

Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources

Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States - USDA Forest Service FHTET

Biology and Biological Control of Leafy Spurge - USDA Forest Service FHTET

Control of Problem Weeds in Range and Pasture - Montana, Utah, and Wyoming Cooperative Extension Services

Element Stewardship Abstract - The Nature Conservancy

Fire Effects Information System - USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station

Invasive Plant Atlas of New England - University of Connecticut

Invasive Plants of Asian Origin Established in the United States and Their Natural Enemies - Volume 1 - USDA Forest Service

Weeds Gone Wild Fact Sheets - Plant Conservation Alliance's Alien Plant Working Group

Weeds of the Week - USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, Forest Health Protection

Selected Images from Invasive.org

Click on each thumbnail to download the image at 1536x1024 resolution or below for available resolutions.

Use 768x512 for Microsoft PowerPoint and use 1536x1024 for Prints and Publications.

Foliage; Richard Old, XID Services, Inc., Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Foliage; Foliage of leafy spurge at peak of fall coloring. William M. Ciesla, Forest Health Management International, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Flower(s); Close up of flower, near Fort Collins. William M. Ciesla, Forest Health Management International, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Flower(s); Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Flower(s); Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Foliage; Richard Old, XID Services, Inc., Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Feature(s); Roots Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Feature(s); Roots Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Plant(s); Richard Old, XID Services, Inc., Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Plant(s); In grain Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Plant(s); in flower Norman E. Rees, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Infestation; Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org 768x512
Infestation; Utah State University Archive, Utah State University, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Infestation; Meadow in Rist Canyon, west of Fort Collins, invaded by leafy spurge. William M. Ciesla, Forest Health Management International, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Infestation; Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Research; research site Norman E. Rees, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Infestation; Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Infestation; Todd Pfeiffer, Klamath County Weed Control, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024

Invasive Reference(s):

Check Invasive.org for most current lists.

Alaska - Noxious Weed Law
Arizona - Noxious Weed Law
California - Noxious Weed Law
California - Invasive Plant Inventory
Colorado - Noxious Weed Law
Connecticut - Noxious Weed Law
Iowa - Noxious Weed Law
Kansas - Noxious Weed Law
Massachusetts - Noxious Weed Law
Michigan - Noxious Weed Law
Minnesota - Noxious Weed Law
Montana - Noxious Weed Law
Nebraska - Noxious Weed Law
New Mexico - Noxious Weed Law
Nevada - Noxious Weed Law
North Dakota - Noxious Weed Law
Oregon - Noxious Weed Law
South Dakota - Noxious Weed Law
Texas - Invasive Plant List
Utah - Noxious Weed Law
Virginia - Invasive Alien Plant Species
Washington - Noxious Weed Law
Wisconsin - Noxious Weed Law
Wyonming - Noxious Weed Law
Mid-Atlantic - EPPC List
Invasive Plants: Western North America
Invasive Plants: Guide to Identification and the Impacts and Control of Common North American Species
Invasive Plants of the Upper Midwest
Invasive Plant Atlas of New England
Midwest Invasive Plant Network

Invasive Plants of the United States

leafy spurge

Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources

Selected Images from Invasive.org

Click on each thumbnail to download the image at 1536x1024 resolution or below for available resolutions.

Use 768x512 for Microsoft PowerPoint and use 1536x1024 for Prints and Publications.

Invasive Reference(s):

Check Invasive.org for most current lists.

External Links


				Bargeron, C.T., C.R. Minteer, C.W. Evans, D.J. Moorhead, G.K. Douce and R.C. Reardon. Technical Coordinators. 2008. Invasive Plants of the United States DVD-ROM: Identification, Biology and Control. USDA Forest Service. Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team. Morgantown, WV. FHTET-08-11.