United States Department of Agriculture 

NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE 

Invasive Species Technical Note No. MT-2 

July 2006 

Ecology and Management of Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula L.) 

Abstract 

Leafy spurge is a long-lived, deep rooted perennial forb adapted to many habitat types from 

riparian to dry hillsides. It has invaded over 2.5 million acres of land in the western United 

States and Canada. Vegetative re-growth from buds on spreading roots and rhizomes enable 

leafy spurge to form dense colonies that reduce forage production and native plant abundance 

and diversity. The milky latex in the sap of all parts of leafy spurge is a skin irritant, can cause 

blistering, and is poisonous to some animals. Leafy spurge is one of four state-listed noxious 

weeds reported from every county in Montana (see Figure 1). Direct and indirect annual 

economic losses attributed to leafy spurge in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and 

Wyoming combined were estimated to be greater than $130 million. 

 

Figure 1. Leafy spurge infestation (green) reported in Montana in 2001. Each green dot on the 

map represents one section reporting leafy spurge. Permission to use this map was granted from 

Diana Cooksey, Adjunct Instructor, MSU-LRES and Coordinator of Montana Agricultural 

Potential System (MAPS). Additional information about section based maps can be found at: 

http://www.montana.edu/places/mtweeds/databasedev.html. 

The extensive reproductive root system of leafy spurge enables it to regenerate after all control 

applications. Deep roots not attacked by biological control insects can send up new shoots. 

Twelve insect species have been approved for release in the United States as biological control 

agents for leafy spurge. Of these, six species of the Aphthona flea beetle feed in the roots 

NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Invasive Species−MT-2 1
(larvae) and leaves (adults) and have been observed to reduce population densities in some areas. 

Other species include root, stem, leaf, and flower feeding insects. Sheep and goats will select 

leafy spurge over other forages once they are trained to eat it and have been used to reduce 

infestation density and prevent spread. Herbicides are not trans-located in the roots much 

beyond the top 20 inches in the soil leaving the remainder of the root system unaffected. 

Therefore, herbicidal control requires high application rates and repeated applications. Studies 

have shown that picloram (one quart/acre) combined in solution with 2,4-D (one quart/acre) 

applied at bloom or in the fall, or imazapic (8 to 12 ounces/acre) applied in the fall reduced leafy 

spurge by up to 90 percent after two consecutive years of treatment. The longevity of control 

will depend on site conditions, competitive plants, and grazing management. Cultural controls 

(tilling, mowing, and burning) when applied alone are ineffective in controlling leafy spurge, but 

may improve the effectiveness of herbicidal, biological, and grazing control when used in an 

integrated management program. 

Plant Biology and Identification 

Leafy spurge is a long-lived perennial that reproduces both by seed and underground 

adventitious buds on the root and root crown. Each flowering stem can produce between 30 and 

130 seeds, and seed production per acre ranges from 25 to 4,000 pounds depending on density 

and site productivity. Seeds can remain viable in the soil for eight years or more, however most 

germinate in the first two years after production. Seed dormancy can be broken at any time and 

germination can occur in a wide range of temperatures. Seeds normally emerge from the top two 

inches of soil but can emerge when buried four inches deep. Peak seedling emergence is in late 

May and early June. Most seedlings do not produce flowers during their first year of growth; 

however shortly after emerging, seedlings can produce roots with vegetative buds capable of 

regenerating shoots rapidly if the seedling is injured. 

Perennial propagation of leafy spurge is through the growth of buds on roots that can be found 

from the root crown to ten feet below the soil surface. Shoots that propagate from buried buds 

usually emerge in late April. Dormancy of buds can be broken at any time during the growing 

season if shoots are damaged or separated from the roots, and in the fall. Roots are dark brown, 

have a thick corky bark and the buds are pink (see Figure 2). 

NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Invasive Species−MT-2 2
Figure 2. Leafy spurge root crown, tap root and rhizomes with reproductive buds. 

Leafy spurge produces vegetative and flowering stems that grow to three feet tall. Both are 

hairless with pale green or blue-green leaves that are long (up to four inches), narrow, linear in 

shape, without serrations, and arranged alternately along the stem (see Figure 3). The stems and 

leaves exude a white, thick, milky latex when damaged. 

Figure 3. Leafy spurge vegetative stem showing the linear-shaped 

leaves and milky sap where stem tip was broken off. 

NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Invasive Species−MT-2 3
The flowers are clustered above yellow to yellow green bracts. The true flowers are green and 

inconspicuous with one seed-, and three pollen flowers per involucre. The flowers have no 

petals or sepals but have bracts below the flowers giving leafy spurge its showy yellow color (see 

Figure 4). The bracts develop in May or early June and the flowers develop two weeks later, 

usually in mid-June. This is an important consideration for timing of herbicide application. 

Flowering is completed (seed-set) by mid-July and seeds develop in capsules 20 to 30 days later. 

When dry, the capsules shatter dispersing the seeds away from the parent plant. 

Figure 4. Leafy spurge flowering stem with showy bracts below inconspicuous flowers. 

In late summer when soil moisture is depleted, leafy spurge becomes dormant and the stems dry 

to light brown or tan “canes.” Vegetative stem growth resumes in the fall and continues until a 

hard frost kills the stems. 

MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES 

Biological 

Biological control insects can provide sustained leafy spurge suppression where they establish in 

large numbers. However, insects do not establish in numbers that affect leafy spurge in all 

locations. Establishment can be affected by soil texture, moisture regime, plant productivity, the 

nutrient content in leafy spurge roots, and the timing of insect release. 

Of the 12 insect species listed in Table 1, the Aphthona flea beetles have the most widespread 

establishment and reduction of leafy spurge in Montana. Flea beetle adults feed on leafy spurge 

leaves and can strip stems of leaves reducing photosynthetic sugar production used for root 

reserves and seed production. The larvae feed on the young roots and root hairs reducing the 

NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Invasive Species−MT-2 4
uptake of nutrients and water, and providing entry points for soil-inhabiting pathogens. Where 

flea beetles establish in large numbers, reductions in leafy spurge density and production, and 

increases in the abundance and production of desirable grasses and forbs can be expected in three 

to five years. Of the six species, only Aphthona abdominalis is currently not established in 

Montana and is not available in the United States. 

The different species of flea beetles have different optimum environmental conditions; however 

they all survive very cold, sub-freezing winter temperatures. Aphthona nigriscutis (see Figure 5) 

is best suited to dry sites with maximum solar exposure, flowering spurge stems less than 30 

inches (70 cm) tall, fewer than 60 stems/yd2, and well-drained soils with less than 3 percent 

organic matter. Aphthona czwalinae does not establish well in clay or acidic soils or in deeply 

shaded areas. Research in Canada indicates that ideal conditions for establishment of A. 

cyparissiae are where flowering stems are taller than 20 inches (51 cm), between 50 and 121 

stems/yd2

, soils are between 40 to 60 percent sand, and that green needle grass (Nasella viridula) 

can be used as an indicator of suitable habitat. Aphthona lacertosa does well on both wet and 

dry sites, but appears to do best on open, sunny, mesic to moderately-dry sites. Aphthona 

cyparissiae and A. flava are brown and difficult to distinguish from each other, whereas A. 

czwalinae and A. lacertosa are black and similar in appearance. Aphthona nigriscutis adults are 

yellowish-brown with a black dot on the back behind the thorax at the leading edge of the wings. 

Figure 4. An adult Aphthona nirgriscutis flea beetle. 

The larvae of flea beetles develop in the soil, and cool soils may retard development and 

establishment of flea beetles. Reducing the leafy spurge canopy in dense infestations using 

herbicides, grazing, or mowing has been observed to improve flea beetle establishment. Ants are 

predators on flea beetles and releases should be made in areas free of ant mounds. 

Aphthona flea beetles attack many species in the genus Euphorbia and they will attack species 

other than leafy spurge in the United States. Aphthona nigriscutis has been observed to feed on 

the native Rocky Mountain spurge (Euphorbia robusta) but no impacts have been determined. 

No non-target effects have been reported for the other Aphthona species. 

Oberea erythrocephala is the red-headed leafy spurge stem borer. When adults lay eggs they 

girdle and often kill leafy spurge stems. The larvae also kill stems when feeding and reduce the 

plants ability to build root reserves and produce seeds. This insect only attacks specific biotypes 

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which affects its establishment. Riparian areas and mesic sites with trees are believed to be the 

best habitat for Oberea. 

Hyles euphorbiae is commonly called the leafy spurge hawk moth. The destructive stage of this 

insect is the larvae that have five growth stages lasting two to three weeks, each with their own 

distinctive and conspicuous color pattern. The caterpillar-like larvae consume the leaves; 

however it does kill the plant and it may be most effective when released in combination with 

other insects. Hawk moths do well in dense leafy spurge stands in open areas near trees. Birds, 

ground squirrels, and other small mammals feed on hawk moth pupae, but the larval skin 

contains toxins that deter predators. 

Spurgia esulae (also called Bayeria capitigena) is the leafy spurge tip gall midge. This insect 

forms a gall at the tip of the leafy spurge stem where the larvae concentrate and where pupation 

occurs. Feeding by each generation of the insect at the stem growing tip prevents the plant from 

producing seeds. It does well in dense stands of leafy spurge growing on slopes with southern 

aspects in cool climates. Currently, there is limited availability of this insect in Montana. 

Predation by native fly species may reduce Spurgia establishment. Once established this species 

may re-distribute long distances by wind. 

Table 1. Biological control insects for management of leafy spurge, the site of attack on the plant, 

insect life stage and plant life stage for collection, and the collection method for redistribution. 

Insect Type Site of attack Collection Collection 

method 

Aphthona abdominalis Flea 

beetle 

Root/foliage Adult NA 

Aphthona cyparissiae Flea 

beetle 

Root/foliage Adults/July Sweep net 

Aphthona czwalinae Flea 

beetle 

Root/foliage Adults/mid June-July Sweep net 

Aphthona flava Flea 

beetle 

Root/foliage Adults/late June-mid 

August 

Sweep net 

Aphthona lacertosa Flea 

beetle 

Root/foliage Adults/Summer Sweep net 

Aphthona nigriscutis Flea 

beetle 

Root/foliage Adults/July Sweep net 

Chamaesphecia 

crassicornis 

Moth Root/stem Eggs NA 

Chamaesphecia 

hungarica 

Moth Root Adult/May-June Roots/Sweep net 

Dasineura sp. fly flower Larvae-pupae/collect 

galls 

NA 

Hyles euphorbiae Moth Leaves/bracts Larvae/July/September Hand pick 

Oberea 

erythrocephala 

Beetle Stem/root 

crown 

Adults/June Sweep net 

Spurgia esulae Fly Shoot tips Larvae-pupae/galls Clipped stem 

bouquets 

NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Invasive Species−MT-2 6
Aphthona abdominalis, Chamaesphecia hungarica and Chamaesphecia crassicornis were 

released in Montana in 1993, 1993, and 1994, respectively, but did not establish. Dasineura was 

permitted for release in the United States in 1991 but adults have not been reared in quarantine in 

the United State because of high rates of parasitism, thus have not been released, and are not 

currently available for distribution. 

Grazing 

Sheep and goats will readily graze leafy spurge once they have been trained to eat it. Grazing 

will stress leafy spurge, reduce root reserves and seed production, and improve the effectiveness 

of herbicide and biological control. When applied annually, it may reduce leafy spurge stand 

density and prevent spread. Grazing can be used in areas that are difficult to access and 

environmentally sensitive areas such as riparian areas where herbicide options are limited. Areas 

where biological control insect establishment is limited including areas with high water table, 

flooding, and soils consisting of 80% or more sand may be grazed by sheep or goats to reduce 

leafy spurge. 

When combined with cattle grazing, grazing sheep or goats improves range use efficiency and 

may result in the ability to increase cattle numbers. Research has shown that cattle grazed with 

sheep gained 21 percent more weight than cattle grazing alone and sheep gained 12 to 36 percent 

more than when they grazed alone. 

Grazing can begin in the spring when leafy spurge plants are two to six inches tall and can be 

continued through fall as long as plants are green. Grazing can be continuous during the 

growing season, or animals can be rotated through pastures. Stocking rates will vary depending 

on the productivity of the pasture, but generally four sheep or 12 goats per acre can graze a leafy 

spurge infested cow/calf pasture for one month. Divide the stocking rate by the number of 

months the sheep or goats are on the pasture if they are left for more than one month (e.g. one 

sheep and three goats per acre for four months). Pastures should be carefully monitored to 

prevent over-utilization of beneficial grasses. Sheep or goats that may have consumed seeds 

while grazing leafy spurge should be contained and fed weed-seed free forage for seven days 

before being moved to weed-free areas to prevent spread of leafy spurge seed through their feces. 

Herbicide Control1/ 

Because of its extensive reproductive root system, herbicidal control of leafy spurge requires 

careful timing of application and repeated applications. Herbicides used for leafy spurge control 

include 2,4-D, glyphosate, dicamba, imazapic, and picloram (see Table 2). Herbicidal control of 

leafy spurge is most economically practical as an eradication strategy on newly established and 

small infestations. 

Picloram applied at one pound per acre (two quarts, the highest rate allowed) during full bloom 

(two weeks after yellow bracts appear) or in the fall before a killing frost (mid-September) 

provides 75 percent or greater control of leafy spurge the first year after treatment. Application 

of this treatment every other year will be needed to maintain this level of control. A tank mix of 

1/

Any mention of products in this publication does not constitute a recommendation by the NRCS. It is a 

 violation of Federal law to use herbicides in a manner inconsistent with their labeling. 

NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Invasive Species−MT-2 7
picloram at 0.25 pound (one pint) plus 2,4-D at one pound (one quart of a four gallon 

concentrate) per acre applied in June during flowering annually for four years provided 

85 percent control of leafy spurge and was the most cost effective herbicide application in North 

Dakota. A fall application of picloram at 0.5 pounds plus 2,4-D at one pound per acre in the first 

year, followed by the 0.25 pound per acre rate of picloram plus one pound 2,4-D in June in 

subsequent years has been used by some managers. Picloram is a restricted use herbicide and 

cannot be used on porous soils with a groundwater table of ten feet or less, or near streams, 

ponds or irrigation ditches. On cultivated land, picloram cannot be applied at rates used to 

control leafy spurge. 

 

Imazapic at 0.125 to 0.188 pounds (8 to 12 ounces) plus one quart methylated seed oil (MSO) 

per acre applied in mid-September provided 80 to 90 percent control of leafy spurge one year 

after treatment on test plots. Grass production may be reduced by imazapic but recovery can be 

expected. June application of imazapic increases grass injury and provides lower control of leafy 

spurge than the fall application. 

Dicamba applied at six to eight pounds (1.5 to 2 gallons) per acre will give good control of leafy 

spurge one year after treatment. Control decreases rapidly the second year after treatment. A 

follow-up spring application of 2,4-D at one pound (one quart of a four gallon concentrate) may 

help reduce re-infestation. On test plots, dicamba at two pounds (two quarts) per acre applied 

annually in mid-June or early September provided 95 percent control of leafy spurge after three 

applications. Some herbicide products have a combination of dicamba and 2,4-D that have been 

effective in short-term management of leafy spurge. The product labels list the active ingredient 

in the herbicide. Always read the label to determine what is in the product. 

Glyphosate plus 2,4-D at 0.4 plus 0.6 pounds per acre (3.38 pints of Campaign® or Landmaster 

BW®) applied at seed set (late June to mid-July) can provide season-long control of leafy spurge 

at 75 percent or greater with zero to ten percent grass injury. This application in the same area 

for two consecutive years may cause severe grass injury, and applied in the fall may result in 30 

percent grass injury. A mid-June application of 2,4-D amine or ester at one pound per acre (one 

quart of a four gallon concentrate) will provide top-growth control of leafy spurge but no control 

the following year. Forage production is increased with a June, but not September application of 

2,4-D. Glyphosate and 2,4-D can be applied in areas of high water table and near waterways and 

ponds. 

There are risks associated with herbicidal control of leafy spurge that should be balanced against 

the resulting benefits, and the risks of alternative management actions, including the no action 

alternative, when making weed management decisions. Potential risks include human and 

environmental health, and economic. 

The risks to human and environmental health can be minimized by strict adherence to application 

requirements defined on the herbicide label. The relative risks of chemicals can be compared by 

their eco-toxicity evaluations (see Table 1). Generally, the chemicals listed pose a low risk to 

human and environmental health. However, the degree of risk is dependent on dose and 

frequency of exposure. Frequency of exposure can be minimized by integrating biological and 

cultural control with proper forage utilization management to slow the growth and spread of 

leafy spurge and thereby reduce the number of herbicide re-applications. 

NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Invasive Species−MT-2 8
The greatest environmental risk of herbicidal control of leafy spurge is injury to plants other than 

leafy spurge. High rates of imazapic and glyphosate will injure grasses. While careful 

calibration of spray equipment is always advised, it is particularly important with imazapic 

because over application can cause long-term injury to desirable forage plants. 

 

Table 1. Chemical and product name, recommended application rate, soil residual half life, and 

eco-toxicity of herbicides commonly used to control leafy spurge. 

Chemical name Product name Rate/acre Half life-days Eco-toxicity (LC50/EC50) 

2,4-D Many names 1-2 qts 7 1-10 mg/L 

Dicamba Banvel 

Clarity 

1-3 pts 10 >100 mg/L 

Glyphosate Many 0.6 lbs 

(with 2,4-D) 

61 (not active) 5-8 mg/L 

Imazapic Plateau 8-12 oz 31-233 >100 mg/L 

Picloram Tordon 1-2 qt 90 10-100 mg/L 

Cultural 

Cultural control methods applied by themselves including tilling, mowing, burning, hand pulling 

and grubbing are not effective for reducing leafy spurge populations because of the regeneration 

from the extensive reproductive root system. Irrigation and fertilization may increase the 

competitiveness of leafy spurge with grasses. Seedlings a few weeks old have roots with 

vegetative buds capable of regenerating the plant after a physical treatment. Cultural methods 

that increase the competitiveness of desirable plants with leafy spurge will improve the 

effectiveness of other control practices. 

Burning. Prescribed burning has been used prior to an herbicide application to improve the 

visibility of the weed and spray coverage by eliminating old stems and ground litter. However, 

burning does not increase herbicidal control of leafy spurge. Increased coverage of leafy spurge 

by herbicides has been found to be greatest if applied after leafy spurge has re-grown for five 

weeks after a burn. Fall or spring prescribed burning before insect release has been used to 

improve A. nigriscutis establishment by 50 percent. 

Tilling. In cropland, intensive season-long cultivation and fall cultivation have been used to 

manage leafy spurge. Fall cultivation applied one or two times when leafy spurge is three to six 

inches tall allows growing crops, litter management, and reduces erosion compared to seasonlong cultivation. Herbicides applied at crop label rates should be applied seven days before the 

first fall cultivation. Season-long intensive cultivation requires using duck-foot cultivators tilling 

four inches (10 cm) deep beginning in the spring two to four weeks after leafy spurge has 

emerged and repeated every three weeks until the soil freezes for one or two growing seasons. 

This cultivation routine should not be interrupted because of quick recovery from root stocks as 

little as one-half inch long and one-tenth inch in diameter. 

Re-vegetation. On leafy spurge infested rangeland and pasture sites, forage grasses will often 

recover naturally after biological, grazing, or herbicidal leafy spurge control. However, on 

degraded or abandon cropland sites, re-vegetation of perennial grasses is highly recommended to 

restore forage production and provide competitive suppression of leafy spurge. Grasses found to 

be competitive with leafy spurge include Russian wild rye, pubescent wheatgrass, western 

NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Invasive Species−MT-2 9
wheatgrass, little bluestem, orchardgrass, bluebunch wheatgrass, and thickspike wheatgrass. 

Refer to Montana Plant Materials Technical Note 46, ‘Seeding Rates and Recommended 

Cultivars,’ and Extension Bulletin EB19 ‘Dryland Pasture Species for Montana and Wyoming’ 

for seeding rate guidance and re-vegetation species selection. State and area resource specialists 

can help determine the most appropriate, site-specific species mix, timing of seeding, and 

seeding methods. 

The establishment of grass species can be improved with herbicidal control of leafy spurge. In 

the Bitterroot Valley, picloram (one quart/acre) or imazapic (ten ounces/acre) applied in midSeptember before a fall-dormant seeding provided suppression of leafy spurge during 

establishment in the following spring without grass seedling injury. Sustained suppression using 

Aphthona flea beetles, sheep or goat grazing, and proper grazing management following grass 

establishment will be needed to maintain grass vigor where cattle graze. 

Integrated Pest Management

Studies have shown that herbicide and Aphthona flea beetle management are compatible. Fallapplied picloram plus 2,4-D had little to no effect on the A. nigriscutis population numbers and 

no effect on over-wintering fitness. Leafy spurge root carbohydrate and protein content were not 

reduced by the herbicide treatment and larval feeding did not change the absorption or 

translocation of picloram and 2,4-D in leafy spurge. Aphthona flea beetle numbers increased 

after a fall picloram plus 2,4-D application in infestations where beetles were slow to establish. 

Also, leafy spurge stem density was observed to decrease three years faster where herbicides 

were combined with flea beetles than where insects were established without herbicides. 

Leafy spurge infestations can be sprayed with picloram or 2,4-D without reducing the density of 

Hyles euphorbiae provided larvae have reached the fourth or fifth instar. Likewise, picloram, or 

2,4-D does not affect S.esulae population density as long as 15 to 25 percent of the leafy spurge 

infestation remained untreated. 

Grazing leafy spurge with sheep or goats is also compatible with Aphthona flea beetles. Grazing 

with sheep for ten days where Aphthona flea beetles had been released was shown to decrease 

leafy spurge density below densities where either treatment was applied alone. 

An integrated leafy spurge weed management program will include prevention, early detection 

and small-scale eradication, containment, and large-scale population reduction. Prevention is 

guided by how leafy spurge spreads and its requirements for establishment and includes 

maintaining competitive plant communities and preventing seed imports by using weed-free feed 

and seed, cleaning equipment before application on weed-free areas, and containing grazing 

animals for seven days after they have fed in leafy spurge infestations and before moving them to 

weed-free areas. Early detection and small-scale eradication is achieved through persistent 

survey and herbicide application. Leafy spurge populations are contained by herbicidal control 

of population boarders and satellite populations, control actions that reduced seed production 

such as sheep or goat grazing and biological control insect releases, and cultivation of 

competitive plants. Large-scale population reduction is achieved over the long-term by applying 

management alternatives such as sheep or goat grazing and biological control insects that reduce 

the leafy spurge population fitness and increase the fitness of desirable, competitive plant 

populations. 

NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Invasive Species−MT-2 10
References 

Coombs, E. M., Coombs, J. K. Clark, G. L. Piper, and A. F. Cofrancesco, Jr. (eds) Biological 

control of invasive plants in the United States. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis. Pages 

233-262. 

Dewey, S.A., S.F. Enloe, F.D. Menalled, S.D. Miller, R.E. Whitesides, and L. Johnson. Weed 

Management Handbook 2006-2007 Montana, Utah, Wyming. Cooperative Extension Services 

Publication # EB0023, Bozeman, Mt. 272 pages. 

Lajeunesse, S., R. Sheley, C. Duncan, and R. Lym. 1999. Leafy Spurge. In: Biology and 

Management of Noxious Rangeland Weeds. Oregon State Press. Pages 249-260. 

Lym, R. 1998. Leafy Spurge Identification and Control. NDSU Extension Service. Publication 

# W-765. Available on line at: www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/plantsci/weeds/w765w.htm . 

Lym, R. 2005. Integration of biological control agents with other weed management 

technologies: Successes from the leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) IPM program. Biological 

Control 35: 366-375. 

TEAM Leafy Spurge. http://www.team.ars.usda.gov

NRCS−Montana−Technical Note−Invasive Species−MT-2 11