It spreads by seed and grows under a wide range of environmental conditions. A milky latex exists in all parts of the plant that can produce blisters and dermatitis in humans, cattle, and horses and may cause permanent blindness if rubbed into the eye. Protection is need when handling toothed spurge. Leaves are up to 3 inches long, ovate to linear , coarsely toothed, mostly opposite , hairy, and often dotted with a few purplish-red spots.
Stems are many branched and generally curve upwards.
Both stems and leaves exude a milky latex when broken. Seeds are rough, bumpy, oval, and gray. No biological control agents are available for toothed spurge, but herbicides are available to provide control.