Leafy Spurge
Leafy Spurge
Euphorbia esula
Colorado List B
General
- Contains toxins that may displace other plants
- Deep-rooted, long-lived perennial
- Extremely difficult to control
- Family: Euphorbiaceae (Spurge)
- Native Range: Europe and Asia
Habitat
- Displaces native vegetation
- Found in disturbed sites, meadows, pastures, abandoned fields and roadside areas between 5,000 and 6,000 feet
- Found in hot and cold climates
- Prefers dry locations but can tolerate moisture
- Will grow in many soil types
Plant
Vegetation
- Contains a milky latex sap
- Grows in dense patches
- Leaves are 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide and 1 to 4 inches long
- Mature plants are 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 feet tall
- Shoots develop from numerous stem and root buds and from seed
- Stems are light green, hairless and turn reddish in the fall
Roots
- Contain large food reserves
- Plants will regrow after grazing or mechanical treatments
- Vertical and horizontal
- Vertical roots grow to depths of 30 feet; horizontal roots may grow 15 feet per year
- Withstand periods of drought, grazing and herbicides
Flower
- Color: yellowish-green
- Dried seed pods explode and expel seeds up to 15 feet
- Enclosed in two, heart-shaped bracts (modified leaves)
- Flowers produce seed 45 to 55 days after bolting
- Season: April to May but may continue until fall
- Seeds are dispersed 4 to 6 weeks after flowering
Seed
- Can remain viable for 8 or more years
- Each stalk can produce 140 to 250 seeds
Seedling
- Can produce roots 3 feet deep and spread 40 inches laterally in 4 months
- Germinates in early spring; peak germination is in May
- Produces vegetative buds 10 to 12 days after germination
- Rarely flowers the first year
Reproduction
- Can reproduce from root fragments 1/2 inch long
- Seed and vegetative
Control
Biological - In Containment Zone ONLY
- Aphthona spp., flea beetles
- Hyles euphorbiae, Leafy spurge hawkmoth
- Oberea erythrocephala, Red-headed Leafy spurge stem borer
- Spurgia esulae, Leafy spurge tip gall midge
- Works best as part of a IPM plan (May to August)
Chemical
Cultural
- Intensive tilling
- Prevention – maintain health of site
- Promotion of healthy grass
- Removal - not effective unless done within first year of growth and before seeds form
- Reseeding
Mechanical
- Burning - Ineffective if used alone. May provide uniform regrowth for more effective herbicide treatment. May allow grasses to germinate and provide competition
- Grazing - Goats and sheep – short-term, intensive grazing is most successful; must be repeated as plant regrow. Cattle will not graze; causes lesions around the eyes and mouth; irritates the digestive tract
- Mowing - Ineffective if used alone. May provide regrowth for more effective herbicide treatment. May allow grasses to germinate and provide competition
More Information
Use all chemicals according to the manufacturer's label. No specific recommendation or endorsement is made or implied by listing methods or products.
Treatment Timeline
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
Control | ||||||||||||
Removal | Not recommended - plants regrow from root fragments | |||||||||||
Herbicide | ||||||||||||
Biological | ||||||||||||
Growth | ||||||||||||
Vegetative | ||||||||||||
Flowering | ||||||||||||
Seed |
-
Invasive Species Management
Physical Address
700 Jefferson County Parkway, Suite 100
Golden, CO 80401
Phone 303-271-5989
Hours
Monday - Thursday
6:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.