Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula L.)
2B, widespread in Montana
Quick ID
- Flowers are a yellow-green color surrounded by heart-shaped yellow bracts
- Brownish roots with pink buds
- Milky, latex sap in stems and leaves
- Alternate, narrow leaves one to four inches long
- Height one to three feet
Leafy Spurge
Video Information
Weed Images
Weed Specifications
| Type | Information |
|---|---|
| Toxicity | The plant contains a milky-colored latex that potentially poisons livestock and irritates the skin of humans. |
| Best Management Practices | Physical, cultural, biological, and chemical methods are integrated to manage leafy spurge. |
| Habitat | Diverse dry and moist habitats ranging from flood plains to mountain slopes; commonly found in abandoned cropland, pastures, rangeland, road-sides and waste areas. |
| Root | Extensive root system up to 30 feet deep; brown rhizomes with pink buds. |
| Leaves | Linear to slightly oblong; alternate on stem; contain milky sap. |
| Lifespan | Perennial |
| Similar Looking Plants | At early stages, yellow toadflax and cypress spurge. |
| Important Information | Seed capsules explode, shooting seeds to distances of 15 feet. This capability combined with the plant’s extensive root system makes the invasive difficult to control. |
