United States Department of Agriculture

Field Guide for Managing

Leafy Spurge in the Southwest

Forest 

Service

Southwestern

Region TP-R3-16-12 Revised June 2017
Cover Photos

Upper left: Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org 

Right: John M. Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Bugwood.org 

Lower left: George Markham, Forest Service, Bugwood.org

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights 

regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or 

administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, 

religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital 

status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal 

or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all 

bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. 

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., 

Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or 

USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay 

Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other 

than English. 

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, 

AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or 

write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To 

request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA 

by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 

Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: 

program.intake@usda.gov. 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

Printed on recycled paper
1 

Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.; synonyms: E. virgata, E. discolor, E. gemelinii, 

Tithymalus esula, Galarrhoeus esula L.)

Spurge family (Euphorbiaceae)

Leafy spurge is listed as a noxious weed in Arizona and

New Mexico. This field guide serves as the U.S. Forest 

Service’s recommendations for management of leafy

spurge in forests, woodlands, and rangelands associated 

with its Southwestern Region. The Southwestern Region

covers Arizona and New Mexico, which together have 11

national forests. The Region administers 4 national

grasslands located in northeastern New Mexico, western

Oklahoma, and the Texas panhandle.

Description

Leafy spurge (synonyms: faitours-grass, wolf’s milk) is an

introduced, colony-forming, creeping, perennial plant that

emerges early during the growing season. It is native to 

Eurasia and has proliferated throughout much of the world.

Growth Characteristics

• Perennial, herbaceous, broadleaf plant growing erect 

to 3 feet tall. Seedlings and shoots emerge in early 

spring and are a distinct deep red to purple color.

May become dormant in late summer and resume 

growing in the fall.

• Extensive root system with deep taproot (up to 20 to 

30 feet long).

• Has a milky, latex-like sap that flows through all 

parts of the plant; sap may be irritating to the skin, 

eyes, and digestive tract of humans and other

animals.

• Narrow, bluish-green leaves, 1 to 4 inches long; may 

be linear-lanceolate to oblong; first leaves are 

opposite, then become alternate. Stems are bluegreen, hairless, erect, and tough; may be woody at

base; forked branching.

• Has inconspicuous yellow-green flowers in umbellike clusters consisting of many male flowers that 

surround a single female flower; each cluster 

embraced by a pair of heart or kidney-shaped,

yellow-green bracts; inflorescence showy from a 

distance (May to July and again in September to 

October). Bracts are often mistaken for flowers.

• Fruits form inside round capsules with three 

chambers, each containing a single, smooth seed;

yellow-brown to grey, or mottled.

• Reproduces via seed and adventitious buds at root 

crown and along lateral roots; buried root fragments

will re-sprout; roots are long-lived and seeds are

viable for 5 to 8 years.

Ecology

Impacts/Threats

Leafy spurge is a long-lived, persistent plant that can

develop dense, monotypic stands. It is a highly competitive 

plant that can: (1) reduce diversity of flora and fauna 

species; (2) degrade wildlife habitat; (3) reduce the 

availability of quality forage for cattle and horses; and (4) 

decrease land values.

Site/Distribution

This weed grows in many soil types and habitats from 

streambanks to dry, upland sites. It invades disturbed and 

undisturbed areas including pastures, abandoned croplands, 

roadsides, woodlands, riparian areas, and mountain ridges 

and meadows. Early establishment often occurs on 

campsites, roadways, trails, and other sites disturbed by 

human traffic. It is common in northern Great Plains States 

and is currently invading riparian and mountain plant 

communities in higher elevations of Arizona and New 

Mexico.

Spread

Once established, leafy spurge spreads rapidly. Flower 

capsules burst open when mature, and seed may land 13 to 

15 feet away from the parent plant. Seed is easily dispersed 

by ants, birds, grazing animals, humans, and water. Seed is 

also spread over long distances by adhering to surfaces and 

undercarriages of road vehicles and road maintenance

equipment. In addition to seed, leafy spurge spreads via 

adventitious root and crown buds or by regrowth from root 

fragments.
2 

Invasive Features

Leafy spurge is highly competitive and has allelopathic

properties that slow or prevent growth of other plant

species. New shoots of spurge can emerge early in the

spring before other plants, and adult plants are able to

flower from May to July for production of seed. In hot and 

dry climates such as New Mexico and Arizona, leafy

spurge can have a dormant period during summer that

allows flowering and growth to resume in the fall.

Management

Due to copious seed production and a deep, wide-ranging

root system, spurge populations are extremely difficult to

control once established. Therefore, aggressive 

management measures conducted continuously over time 

are needed to keep populations under control. Components 

of a successful control program for established leafy 

spurge include (1) maintaining repetitive treatment over 

multiple, consecutive years; (2) periodically monitoring 

treated areas and spot treating any seedlings or shoots that 

have emerged; and (3) using sound grazing practices. 

The following actions should be considered when planning 

a management approach for leafy spurge: 

• Maintain healthy plant communities to limit leafy 

spurge encroachment.

• Check hay, straw, mulch, and especially excavated

soil and gravel for presence of weed seed before

using these materials in spurge-free areas. Certified

weed-free hay or pellets should be fed to horses used 

in backcountry areas.

• Detect, map, and eradicate new populations of leafy 

spurge as early as possible. Keep annual records of 

reported infestations.

• Combine mechanical, cultural, biological, and 

chemical methods for most effective control.

• Implement monitoring and a follow-up treatment 

plan for missed plants and seedlings.

Table 1 summarizes some management options for

controlling leafy spurge under various situations. Further 

details on these management options are explained below.

Choice ofindividual method(s) for leafy spurge control

depends on many factors including the extent and density 

of spurge infestations, current land use, and site conditions

(terrain, accessibility, microclimate, presence of nontarget 

flora and fauna, etc.). Other important considerations 

include treatment effectiveness, overall cost, and the

number of years needed to achieve control. More than one 

control method may be needed for a particular site.

Physical Control

Physical methods (manual, mechanical, etc.) alone are

generally ineffective at controlling leafy spurge, but they 

can be used to suppress seed production and growth. 

Methods that stress and/or attack the root system usually 

have to be repeated and must be timed properly to be most 

effective. Effectiveness of physical methods can be

improved when used in combination with herbicide

control.

Manual Methods

Because of the expansive root system of leafy spurge, hand 

pulling or grubbing are not effective and are not

recommended control methods. Hand cutting or repeated 

clipping in localized situations can reduce leafy spurge’s

seed production and its competitive ability with desirable 

grasses and forbs (flowering plants), but these methods

will only suppress growth. Plants should be clipped within 

4 inches of the ground just before seed set and then

repeated throughout the growing season. Flower material 

should be bagged or burned since seed will continue to 

mature if left onsite.

Mechanical Methods

If using machinery to manage leafy spurge, equipment

should be cleaned immediately after field operations to

prevent movement of seed or root fragments into uninfestedareas.

Mowing – Mowing is ineffective against leafy spurge

since its deep root system simply re-sprouts. However, 

mowing prior to herbicide spraying may produce a 

uniform regrowth for more effective herbicide treatment. 

Tillage – Tillage can be effective on relatively level 

ground but only when coupled with a reseeding effort. 
3 

Table 1. Management options*

Site Physical Control Cultural Control Biological Control Chemical Control

Roadsides Mow every 3 weeks 

during growth season. 

Use mowing in

combination with an 

autumn herbicide

application.

Use seed, mulch, and fill materials 

certified to be weed-free.

Train road crews to identify and

report infestations.

Clean machinery following activity in

infested areas.

Consider using biocontrol 

agents in combination

with herbicides (see table

2). Effectiveness of agents

may be limited due to

possible disturbances in

agent life cycles from

roadside operations.

For ground 

application, use 

truck-mounted or 

tractor-pulled 

spraying equipment.

Wash under vehicle 

after application to

prevent spread.

Rangelands Use repeat tillage

only in areas to be

reseeded. Combine

with herbicide

spraying.

Use prescribed

burning only when 

combined with 

another control 

method.

Use seed and forage hay certified to be 

weed-free; use pellets for horses in 

backcountry areas.

After passing through infested areas,

inspect and remove any seed from 

animals, clothing, and vehicles before

entering treated or un-infested areas.

Reseed with plants that are desirable

and can compete.

Use a strategy that

combines prescribed 

grazing involving sheep or 

goats together with either 

herbicide control or 

biocontrol agents (see table

2).

Closely manage grazing

to prevent overuse.

For extensive and dense 

infestations, use ground

or aerial broadcast

spraying.

For sparse infestations, 

use backpack spraying.

Riparian 

areas, 

wilderness

and other

natural areas

Hand removal is 

ineffective and is not 

recommended as a

control method.

Use seed and forage hay certified to be 

weed-free; use pellets for horses in 

backcountry areas.

After passing through infested areas,

inspect and remove any seed from 

animals or clothing before entering

treated or un-infested areas.

Post signs warning visitors to inspect 

for seeds and remove them from

animals, clothing, and vehicles when 

leaving an infested area.

Same as above. Use backpack or handheld sprayers. Broadcast 

spraying by aerial or 

ground methods may be

used on thicker stands if

allowed.

* Choice of a particular management option must be in compliance with existing regulations for the land resource.

Local conditions dictate when reseeding should be 

accomplished in conjunction with tillage. Typically, seed 

from desired grass and forb species is planted in Arizona

and New Mexico during late summer or early autumn. 

Areas with suitable terrain should be tilled at 3-week 

intervals with a plow or disc to a depth of at least 4 inches

beginning when leafy spurge shoots emerge in late winter. 

If combined with a spring herbicide application, allow 

leafy spurge shoots to grow 4 to 6 inches before spraying 

(see table 3). Wait at least 1 week after spraying before 

resuming cultivation. When combined with fall herbicide 

spraying, tillage should cease near the end of the growing 

season to encourage regrowth that will translocate 

herbicide into underground roots and stems.

Prescribed Fire

Burning is not recommended for leafy spurge control as 

spurge rapidly regenerates new shoots from adventiti

buds on the crown and roots. However, fire may be u

in combination with herbicide control or grazing to

remove debris and litter.

ous

sed

Cultural Control

Early detection and plant removal are critical for preventing

leafy spurge establishment. Land managers, road crews, and

the local public should be educated as to how to identify

nonnative, noxious species so they can help report all

suspected infestations. Seed and materials used for mulch, 

forage, or fill should be certified to be weed-free; pellets 
4 

may be used for horses in backcountry areas. Vehicles, 

humans, and livestock should be discouraged from traveling 

through infested areas; a program to check and remove 

seeds from vehicles and livestock should be implemented to 

help stop dispersal. If possible, weed screens should be used 

on irrigation water intakes in infested areas to preventseed

transportation in irrigation canals.

Biological Control

Grazing

In combination with either herbicide or insect control, 

grazing with goats or sheep can lower seed production of 

leafy spurge and decrease its spread. Sheep and goats 

(especially Angora goats) will readily graze young leafy

spurge plants and ordinarily are not as susceptible to

poisoning as other livestock. Because of their ability to

graze spurge closely, sheep have been widely used in 

management programs for leafy spurge control. Cattle and

horses do not prefer spurge and are more susceptible to

toxins in the plant. These animals should not be forced to

ingest this weed since they may become weak with scours,

which often results in illness and death.

To maximize stress on carbohydrate reserves in roots and 

provide higher suppression, leafy spurge should be grazed 

with sheep or goats at a moderate to severe rate of 

utilization. However, even light grazing can trigger a 

positive shift in a plant community since leafy spurge

produces tannins in response to being clipped, which

reduces energy spent on new growth. Research hasshown

that stocking rates of 3 to 6 sheep per acre per month, 1 to 

2 ewes with lambs per acre per month, or 12 to 16 Angora 

goats per acre per month are appropriate.

Grazing with sheep or goats should begin in spring when 

plants are 2 to 6 inches high and continued until all of the 

yellow bracts on the stem have been consumed. If using 

sheep or goats in combination with a biocontrol agent such 

as a flea beetle (Aphthona spp.), graze once in the spring 

and once in the fall; grazing should not occur during 

summer to allow the beetle to complete its life cycle on the 

plant. If using grazing in combination with herbicide, 

graze plants as above but remove animals early in the fall 

and allow 3 to 4 inches of regrowth; then apply a 

recommended herbicide. After grazing leafy spurge

infested areas, animals should be quarantined 5 to 6 days 

to prevent spreading seed to spurge-free areas.

Classical Biological Control

Numerous classical biocontrol agents for leafy spurge 

control have been tried throughout the United States with 

varying success. USDA-approved biocontrol agents 

include a number of flea beetles, a stem borer, a gallmaking fly, and moths (table 2). Using a flea beetle in 

combination with grazing and/or herbicides has been 

found to be a better strategy for leafy spurge control than 

employing a single control method by itself. In a 

biocontrol study in northern New Mexico, Aphthona

beetles released in excess of 22 beetles per square foot 

within a 30 to 45 ft2 area were found to maintain a viable 

population while reducing spurge biomass by ≥ 95 

percent. For further information on biocontrol of leafy 

spurge, see Bourchier et al. (2006) in the “References and 

Further Information” section of this field guide.

Adult Aphthona beetles may be collected and released 

within the interior of a given State without a permit from 

APHIS. A sweep net may be used around spurge plants to 

collect flea beetles for redistribution into spurge-infested 

areas that lack the insect and have at least a moderate 

spurge density. The beetles should be placed in a cooler 

for transport and then immediately released. To ensure 

adequate number of Aphthona beetles for collection, 

beetles should be collected in the field during hot summer 

periods (e.g., late July through August).

Organisms (insects, pathogens, etc.) used as biocontrol 

agents in southwestern States should be adaptable to arid 

environments and local conditions. Public, tribal, and 

private land managers may obtain biocontrol agents for 

release directly from local offices of the USDA Animal 

and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) when these 

agents are available. Other sources for biocontrol agents

include locally developed insectaries or private 

companies.

A permit must be obtained from APHIS before biocontrol 

agents can be transported across State lines. Regulations 

and permit applications (PPQ 526 permit forms) 

pertaining to interstate shipment of biocontrol agents can 

be found at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/
5 

Table 2. Classical biocontrol agents approved for leafy spurge

Species Type of Agent Site of Attack/Impact Use/Considerations for 

Release Remarks

Aphthona 

cyparissiae

flea beetle Adults feed on leaves and 

flowers; larvae feed on 

roots and root hairs.

Open prairie sites with moist sandy 

loam soil, 50 to 125 leafy spurge 

stems/m2 and over 50 cm tall.

Aphthona 

czwalinae 

flea beetle Adults feed on leaves and 

flowers; larvae feed on 

roots and root hairs.

A. czwalinae prefers sites with mesic 

moisture loam soil and leafy spurge 

mixed with other vegetation. 

Mixed populations of A. 

czwalinae and A. lacertosa

may coexist at release sites.

Aphthona flava flea beetle Adults feed on leaves and

flowers; larvae feed on roots 

and root hairs.

May be hard to establish on clay or 

acidic soils.

Released inArizona.

Aphthona

lacertosa

flea beetle Adults feed on leaves and

flowers; larvae feed on roots 

and root hairs.

Generally associated with loamyclay soils.Established in New

Mexico.

Aphthona

nigriscutis

flea beetle Adults feed on leaves and

flowers; larvae feed on roots 

and root hairs.

Restricted to dry sites. Established in New

Mexico; released in

Arizona.

Chamaesphecia 

species (2)

moths Larvae feed within the leafy 

spurge roots and root

feeding injury has the 

greatest impact on leafy 

spurge 

The establishment rate for the 

Chamaesphecia spp. has been very low 

to none; therefore, the biology of the 

clearwing moths is not well 

documented for conditions in North 

America

No information is 

available on the impact 

of the clearwing moths 

on leafy spurge in the 

United States.

Hyles 

euphorbiae 

moth Leafy spurge hawk moth 

larvae feed on leafy spurge 

foliage. Although larvae 

may defoliate individual 

plants, larval feeding 

appears to have little impact 

on leafy spurge’s density

Leafy spurge hawk moth prefers 

disturbed meadows and valleys with 

dense stands of leafy spurge. 

Predation and disease 

tend to keep the moth’s 

population levels too 

low to be effective.

Oberea

erythrocephala

long-horned

beetle

Adults feed on flowers,

leaves, and stems; deposit

eggs within stems. Larvae

bore through stem to root;

feed within crown and roots; 

pupate in May.

Best for sunny sites along streams.

Less consistent results than A.

lacertosa or A. nigriscutis above.

Introduced in New 

Mexico but not well

established.

Spurgia esula gall-forming

midge (fly)

Midge feeds on shoot tips

and forms galls.

This agent prefers specific genotypes 

of leafy spurge. Since leafy spurge 

has a high degree of genetic 

variability, the midge is more 

difficult to establish orsustain 

following introduction.

Introduced in New 

Mexico but not known 

to be established.
6 

planthealth/import-information/permits/regulated-organismand-soil-permits/sa_apply/ct_plantpest_howtoapply. 

Although biocontrol agents may be collected and released 

internally in a given State without an APHIS permit, the 

State’s department of agriculture or agricultural extension 

service should be consulted for any regulations relating to 

movement of these agents within the State.

Chemical Control

A selective post-emergent broadleaf herbicide should be 

used to control leafy spurge (table 3). Herbicide spraying 

will reduce leafy spurge populations, but follow-up spot 

spraying should always be anticipated for a minimum of 

several years to attain long-term control. Picloram (e.g., 

Tordon® 22K) has long been used for leafy spurge control 

because the herbicide provides selective control while

allowing native grasses to return naturally. However, 

picloram is a restricted-use pesticide and should not be 

used near waterways or when the watertable is near the 

ground surface. A new herbicide activeingredient,

aminocyclopyrachlor, is now commercially available as

Perspective® or Streamline® and has been shown in

university-led testing to provide effective leafy spurge 

control. Other herbicides, including imazapic (e.g., 

Plateau®), are also effective and should be considered for 

spurge treatment on permeable soils, around trees, or near 

surface water.

Herbicides listed in table 3 may impact other desirable 

broadleaf and woody species, so precautionary measures

should be taken if nontarget species need to be protected. 

Aquatically approved herbicides and surfactants must be 

used in or near water. For all herbicide applications, it is 

important to read the herbicide label carefully since 

different products will have different requirements and 

restrictions. Label instructions and guidelines for mixing,

application, and grazing restrictions following treatment 

should always be followed.

Herbicide Application

Herbicide treatments are most effective when made in the 

fall rather than spring because the chemical is more easily 

transported to the root system after flowering. Herbicides 

may be applied with backpack or hand-held sprayers, ATV 

or UTV sprayers, or conventional boom sprayers that are 

pulled or attached to a tractor or truck. Any equipment 

used to spray herbicide should be calibrated. For sparse

populations, one person or a small team can spray spurge

using individual plant treatment (IPT). Spray plants

directly by wetting the foliage and stems without dripping 

while using an adjustable spray nozzle attached to a handheld or backpack sprayer. Add a quality adjuvant as 

recommended on the herbicide label.

Management Strategies

Early detection and eradicating populations soon after they 

are discovered is extremely important for leafy spurge 

control. Small populations of leafy spurge infesting 

otherwise healthy sites should be given high priority for 

treatment. A combination of control methods, as outlined in 

this guide, should always be considered in a long-term 

strategy to control leafy spurge over large areas. As an 

example, biological control combined with herbicide 

control can be an effective option under many situations. 

Reseeding after herbicide spraying or using classical 

biocontrol agents is typically unnecessary for leafy spurge, 

although it may be useful under certain situations. 

Experience with reseeding in combination with leafy 

spurge control is limited in New Mexico andArizona.

However, reseeding in northern States after spurge

treatment has shown that planting a variety of desirable 

grasses will foster competition with leafy spurge, which 

can help further suppress the spurge. In areas where

reseeding is planned, glyphosate (e.g., Roundup®) may be 

used for site preparation. Glyphosate treatment is most 

effective when applied sequentially at 1-month intervals 

and is coupled with a fall grass seeding. The first 

application should be made in early summer (June) and the 

second about a month later (provided there are green leafy 

spurge shoots to spray). If leafy spurge recovers from these

treatments, spray 2,4-D (2 quarts per acre) in late summer 

to early September to control regrowth. Sow perennial 

grass seed in late autumn as a dormant seeding, i.e., grass

seedlings will not emerge until the following spring.

Any strategy adopted for managing leafy spurge over large 

areas must involve careful planning. Complete control of 

leafy spurge will likely require at least 5 to 10 years or 

more of repeated treatments. Since it is ordinarily useless
7 

Table 3. Herbicide recommendations

Common

Chemical

Name (active 

ingredient)

Product

Example1

Broadcast 

Treatment 

(rate per 

acre)

Spot 

Treatment 

(spray 

solution)2

Time of

Application Remarks

Picloram3 Tordon 22K 1–2 quarts 1–3% Use lower 

herbicide rate

in fall; higher in

spring.

Persistent, selective herbicide; higher rate

may impact grasses. Retreatment for several

years may be required.

2,4-D4 + 

picloram3

Grazon P+D 2 quarts 3–5% Use for spring 

applications.

Persistent; selective; will not harmmany

grass species but will affect broadleaves.

Aminocyclopyrachlor + 

chlorsulfuron

Perspective 4.75–8 ounces

Consult label

for mixing 

directions 

and use of a

quality 

adjuvant.

Add 5–9 grams of 

dry flowable 

powder to each 1 

gal water.

Spray actively 

growing leafy 

spurge.

Labeled for non-crop use (includes natural 

areas such as wildlife management areas, 

wildlife habitats, recreation areas, 

campgrounds, trailheads, and trails).

May also be used on public, private, and tribal 

lands as part of an early detection and rapid 

response (EDRR) in treating infestations of 

invasive weed species.

Persistent; selective; may cause temporary 

injury to some grassspecies.

Aminocyclopyrachlor + 

metsulfuron 

methyl

Streamline 4.75–9.5 

ounces

Same as above. Same as above. Same as above.

Dicamba Clarity, 

several

manufacturers

2–4 quarts 1–3% At flowering and 

on regrowth in the 

fall. Use higher 

rate for older or

denser stands.

Selective; damages most broadleaf species but

will not harm most grasses. Not as effective 

as picloram but is less expensive and is not

restricted.

2,4-D4 + dicamba Weedmaster 2–4 quarts 2–5% Use for spring 

applications.

Check label for grazing restrictions.

Imazapic Plateau 8–12 ounces + 

1.5–2 pints 

methylated

seed oil

0.25–1.5% + 1% 

v/v methylated

seed oil

Apply in very 

late summer or 

in fall after first

light frost.

Persistent; selective; rates that exceed 8oz/A 

rate may retard growth of desirable cool

season grasses if applications are made in late

summer.

Glyphosate Rodeo,

Roundup

1 quart each 

application; 2 

quarts total

2–5% Apply 

sequentially with

one application

in early June and 

a second 

application 1 

month later.

Nonselective herbicide; overspray can injure

surrounding plants and open more area to

weeds. Recommended only when combined

with later grass seeding.

1 Trade names for products are provided for example purposes only, and other products with the same active ingredient(s) may be available. Individual 

product labels should be examined for specific information and appropriate use with leafy spurge.

2

 Spray solution is the herbicide/water ratio in a spray mix that may be used for spot treatment with backpack or hand-held sprayers. The amount of product 

applied during an annual growing season must not exceed the maximum application rate per acre as specified by the product label – refer to the product 

label for the site type and application. 

3 Restricted use pesticide - A certified applicator’s license is required for purchase and use.

4 2,4-D is a restricted use pesticide in New Mexico only. A certified applicator’s license is required for purchase and use.
8 

to treat an area only one time without retreatment,

sufficient resources must be allocated for the area where 

control is attempted. After initial treatment, it is especially 

important that resources are also available to respray or 

retreat the treated area as necessary. Previously treated 

areas should be monitored continuously to control 

recovering leafy spurge. It is also essential to monitor the 

return of desirable native plant species.

Adaptive Management

Leafy spurge is difficult to control, and a persistent 

commitment to spurge treatment will be required for many

years, sometimes indefinitely. Therefore, realistic goals 

and objectives should be established to manage leafy 

spurge infestations occurring broadly throughout a given 

landscape. To improve long-term success, consider using 

an adaptive management approach with the overall goal of 

restoring desirable plant communities. The stepwise 

process for adaptive management involves:

1. Assessment of the overall weed problem,

2. Establishing management goals and objectives,

3. Implementation of control strategies and 

measures,

4. Monitoring the effectiveness of management 

actions,

5. Evaluating actual outcomes in relation to expected

results, and

6. Adjusting practices as necessary.

Steps of this process should be repeated in sequence as part

of a continuous learning cycle that improves management

planning and strategy by learning from the outcomes of 

previous management actions. In general, an adaptive 

management approach is considered to be successful if: 

1. Stakeholders are actively involved and remain 

committed to the process,

2. Monitoring and assessment are used to adjust and

improve management decisions, and

3. Management goals and/or objectives for the 

resource are being achieved.

References and Further

Information

Anderson, G.L., E.S. Delfosse, N.R. Spencer, C.W.

Prosser, and R.D. Richard. 2003. Lessons in 

Developing Successful Invasive Weed Control 

Programs. Journal of Range Management 56:2–12.

Biesboer, D.D. (updated by N. Eckhardt) 1996. Leafy 

Spurge: Element Stewardship Abstract. Available at

http://www.invasive.org/weedcd/pdfs/tncweeds/

euphesu.pdf (accessed June 2010).

Bourchier, R., R. Hansen, R. Lym, A. Norton, D. Olson,

C.B. Randall, M. Schwarzländer, and L. Skinner.

2006. Biology and Biological Control of Leafy

Spurge. USDA Forest Service FHTET-2007-07. 

Morgantown, WV. Available athttp://www.fs.fed. 

us/foresthealth/technology/pdfs/LeafySpurgeBiocon

trols.pdf (accessed Feb. 2011).

California Department of Food and Agriculture. 2010. 

Encycloweedia Datasheets. Available at

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/ipc/weedinfo/euphorb

ia.htm (accessed June 2010).

Davison, J.C., E. Smith, and L.M. Wilson. 2007. Livestock 

Grazing Guidelines for Controlling Noxious Weeds

in the Western United States: A WesternRegion 

Sustainable Agriculture, Research andEducation

Project. EB-06-05. Pp. 30–31. Available at

http://www.cnr.uidaho.edu/rx-grazing/Livestock 

_Graizng_Guidelines%28Davison_et_al.%202007%

29.pdf (accessed June 2010).

Duncan, K., K. McDaniel, and M. Renz. 2005. Chemical

Weed and Brush Control for New Mexico

Rangelands. New Mexico State University College 

ofAgriculture and Home Economics and 

Cooperative Extension Service. Las Cruces, NM. 8 

pp. Available at http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/

_circulars/CR _597.pdf (accessed June 2010).
9 

Goodwin, K., R. Sheley, R. Nowerski, and R. Lym.

2003. Leafy Spurge: Biology, Ecology and

Management (based on a previous version by 

Sherry Lajeunesse et al. 1995). Available at

http://www.sheepinstitute.montana.edu/articles/eb

134.pdf (accessed June 2010).

Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States. 2010.

Available at http://www.invasive.org/weedus/ 

index.html(accessed June 2010).

Kreps, B. 2000. Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula). In

C.C. Bossard et al. (eds.) Invasive Plants of

California’s Wildlands. University of California 

Press. Berkley, CA. Available at http://www.calipc.org/ip/management/ipcw/online.php (accessed 

June 2010).

Launchbaugh, K. 2008. Targeted Grazing: Leafy

Spurge. University of Idaho. Available at

(http://www.cnr. uidaho.edu/rx-grazing/Forbs/

Leafy_Spurge.htm (accessed June 2010).

Merritt, S., D. Hirsch, and D. Nelson. 2002. Biological 

Control of Leafy Spurge. Team Leafy Spurge.

Available at http://www.team.ars.usda.gov/

biocontrolmanual.pdf (accessed June 2010).

Merritt, S., C. Prosser, K. Sedivec and D. Bangsund.

2002. Multi-Species Grazing and Leafy Spurge. 

TeamLeafy Spurge. Available at

http://www.team.ars.usda.gov/grazingmanual.

html (accessed June 2010).

Nowierski, R. and R. Pemberton .2002. Leafy Spurge In

R. Van Driesche et al. (ed.) Biological Control of 

Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States, 

USDA Forest Service Publ.FHTET-2002-04. 413 

pp. Available at http://www.invasive.org/eastern/

biocontrol/14LeafySpurge.html, (accessed June

2010).

Ogden, J.A.E. and M.J. Renz. 2005. New Mexico State

University Weed Fact Sheet: Leafy Spurge.

Available at http://weeds.nmsu.edu/pdfs/ 

leafy_spurge_factsheet_11-06-05.pdf (accessed 

June 2010).

Rinella, M.J. and B.J. Hileman. 2009. Efficacy of

Prescribed Grazing Depends on Timing Intensity 

and Frequency. Journal of Applied Ecology

46:796-803.

Schmidt, L. 2004. Rangeland Management Strategies.

Sustainable Agriculture Network. Available at

http://www.sare.org/publications/rangeland.htm

(accessed June 2010).

Simonin, K.A. 2000. Euphorbia esula. In Fire Effects 

Information System. U.S. Department of

Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain 

Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory 

(Producer). Available at http://www.fs.fed.us/ 

database/feis/plants/forb/eupesu/all.html (accessed 

June 2010).

Thunhorst, G. and J.M. Swearingen. 2009. Least

Wanted: Leafy spurge Fact Sheet. Plant 

Conservation Alliance. Available at

http://www.nps.gov/ plants/alien/fact/eues1.htm 

(accessed June 2010). 

Williams, B.K., R.C. Szaro, and C.D. Shapiro. 2009. 

Adaptive Management: The U.S. Department of

the Interior Technical Guide. Adaptive

Management Working Group, U.S. Department 

of the Interior, Washington, DC. Available at

http://www.doi.gov/initiatives/AdaptiveManage

ment (accessed April 2011)

Suggested Web Sites

Purge Spurge: Leafy Spurge Database (includes free

how-to manuals and information links).

http://www.team.ars.usda.gov/v2/infoproducts. 

html

Pesticide information online: http://www.cdms.net/

USDA Plants Database. 2010. 

http://plants.usda.gov/index.html.
For more information or

other field guides, contact:

USDA Forest Service 

Southwestern Region

Forest Health

333 Broadway Blvd., SE 

Albuquerque, NM 87102

Or visit the Southwestern Region’s 

website for invasive species:

http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/r3/invasivespecies

The use of trade or firm names in this publication is for reader 

information only and does not imply endorsement of any 

product or service by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

Recommendations made here for 

pesticide use are not obligatory, 

nor do they imply that discussed 

uses have been registered. All 

uses of pesticides must be 

registered by appropriate State 

and/or Federal agencies before 

they can be applied. 

CAUTION: Pesticides can be 

injurious to humans, domestic 

animals, desirable plants, and fish or other wildlife—if they 

are not handled or applied properly. Use all pesticides 

carefully and lawfully. Follow recommended practices for the 

disposal of surplus pesticides and pesticide containers.