20 May 2005 Page 1 of 3 

Plant Conservation Alliance®s Alien Plant Working Group 

Xeeds HoneXild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas 

http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/

FACT SHEET: LEAFY SPURGE

Leafy Spurge 

Euphorbia esula L. 

Spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) 

NATIVE RANGE 

Europe and Asia 

DESCRIPTION 

Leafy spurge is characterized by plants containing a white milky sap 

and flower parts in three's. Leafy spurge is an erect, branching, 

perennial herb 2 to 31⁄2 feet tall, with smooth stems and showy yellow 

flower bracts. Stems frequently occur in clusters from a vertical root 

that can extend many feet underground. The leaves are small, oval to 

lance-shaped, somewhat frosted and slightly wavy along the margin. The flowers of leafy spurge are very small and are 

borne in greenish-yellow structures surrounded by yellow bracts. Clusters of these showy, yellow bracts open in late May 

or early June, while the actual flowers do not develop until mid-June. 

ECOLOGICAL THREAT 

Leafy spurge displaces native vegetation in prairie habitats and fields through shading and by usurping available water 

and nutrients and through plant toxins that prevent the growth of other plants underneath it. Leafy spurge is an aggressive 

invader and, once present, can completely overtake large areas of open land. 

DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES 

Leafy spurge occurs across much of the northern U.S., with the most extensive 

infestations reported for Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota, and 

Wyoming. It has been identified as a serious pest on a number of national 

parks and on preserves of The Nature Conservancy in eleven northern states. 

HABITAT IN THE UNITED STATES 

Leafy spurge tolerates moist to dry soil conditions but is most aggressive under 

dry conditions where competition from native plants is reduced. It is capable of 

invading disturbed sites, including prairies, savannas, pastures, abandoned 

fields and roadside areas. 

BACKGROUND 

Leafy spurge was transported to the U.S. possibly as a seed impurity in the early 1800s. First recorded from 

Massachusetts in 1827, leafy spurge spread quickly and reached North Dakota within about 80 years. 

BIOLOGY & SPREAD 

Leafy spurge reproduces readily by seeds that have a high germination rate and may remain viable in the soil for at least 

seven years, enhancing its chances of recovery over time. Its seed capsules open explosively, dispersing seed up to 15 

feet from the parent plant and may be carried further by water and wildlife. Leafy spurge also spreads vegetatively at a 

rate of several feet per year. The root system is complex, can reach 15 or more feet into the ground, and may have 

numerous buds. 

MANAGEMENT OPTIONS 

Because of its persistent nature and ability to regenerate from small pieces of root, leafy spurge is extremely difficult to 

eradicate. 
20 May 2005 Page 2 of 3 

Plant Conservation Alliance®s Alien Plant Working Group 

Xeeds HoneXild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas 

http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/

Biological 

Biological control offers a highly promising management tactic for leafy spurge. The U.S. 

Department of Agriculture has shown success using six natural enemies of leafy spurge 

imported from Europe. These include a stem and root-boring beetle (Oberea erythrocephala), 

four root-mining flea beetles (Aphthona spp.) and a shoot-tip gall midge (Spurgia esulae). 

Large scale field-rearing and release programs are carried out cooperatively by federal and 

State officials in many northern states. The results are not as immediate as when herbicides 

are used but, if pesticide use is kept to a minimum, large numbers of these agents build up 

within a few years and have shown impressive results. 

Chemical 

Several systemic herbicides have been found to be effective if applied in June, when the 

flowers and seeds are developing, or in early to mid-September, when the plants are moving 

nutrients downward into the roots. Preliminary research suggests that chemical treatment in the 

fall followed by a spring burn to reduce seed germination may be an effective strategy for 

reducing leafy spurge infestations. Multiple treatments are necessary every year for several 

years, making leafy spurge control an extremely expensive undertaking. If left uncontrolled for 

a single year, leafy spurge can reinfest rapidly. 

Fire 

Prescribed burning, in conjunction with herbicides, may also be effective. 

USE PESTICIDES WISELY: Always read the entire pesticide label carefully, follow all mixing and application instructions and wear all 

recommended personal protective gear and clothing. Contact your state department of agriculture for any additional pesticide use 

requirements, restrictions or recommendations. 

NOTICE: mention of pesticide products on this page does not constitute endorsement of any material.

CONTACTS 

For more information on the management of leafy spurge, please contact: 

• U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, Colorado Plateau Field Station 

http://www.usgs.nau.edu/swemp/Info_pages/plants/Euphorbia/euphorbiaesula.html 

OTHER LINKS 

• http://www.invasive.org/search/action.cfm?q=Euphorbia%20esula 

• http://nbii-nin.ciesin.columbia.edu/ipane/icat/browse.do?specieId=51

AUTHORS 

Gwendolyn Thunhorst, The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA 

Jil M. Swearingen, National Park Service, Washington, DC 

PHOTOGRAPHS 

John M. Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Davis, CA 

REFERENCES 

Cole, M.A.R. 1991. Vegetation management guideline: leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.). Natural Areas Journal 

11(3):171. 

Lacey, C.A., R.W. Kott, and P.K. Fay. 1984. Ranchers control leafy spurge. Rangelands 6(5):202-204. 

Lym, R.G., C.G. Messersmith, R. Zollinger. 1993. Leafy spurge identification and control. Report W-765. North Dakota 

State University Extension Service, NDSU, Fargo. 

Parker, P.E. 1995. CPC and USDA team up to fight exotic weeds. Plant Conservation 9(2):6-7. 

Sun, M. 1981. The purge of leafy spurge. Science 214:1103. 
20 May 2005 Page 3 of 3 

Plant Conservation Alliance®s Alien Plant Working Group 

Xeeds HoneXild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas 

http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/

Swearingen, J. 2009. WeedUS Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States: Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia 

esula). http://www.invasive.org/weedus/subject.html?sub=3405. 

The Nature Conservancy. Leafy Spurge: Element Stewardship Abstract. In: Wildland Weeds Management & Research 

Program, Weeds on the Web. 

U.S. Department of Agriculture. 1992. Biological Control of Leafy Spurge. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 

Program Aid Number 1435. 

USDA, NRCS. 2009. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 

70874-4490 USA. 

Wolters, G.L., C.H. Sieg, A.J. Bjugstad, and F.R. Gartner. 1994. Herbicide and fire effects on leafy spurge density and 

seed germination. Research Note RM-526. Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, U.S.D.A. 

Forest Service.