Cypress Spurge—Euphorbia cyparissias
An aggressive invasive perennial which crowds out native species, cypress spurge prefers sandy or gravelly soils. It is found in meadows, pastures, cemeteries, roadsides, gardens, dunes, and grasslands.
Cypress spurge plants grow 6 to 10 inches tall. Leaves and stems emit a milky sap when broken.
Yellowish-green flowers grow in bunches at the ends of the stems. Flowers turn reddish green as they mature.
Many branched stems are covered with numerous narrow leaves, each ½ to 1¼ inches long.
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Identification and Control Information
- Fact Sheet with Description and Control Options (PDF) —United State Department of Agriculture Forest Service
- Cypress Spurge Identification and Management (PDF) —Colorado Department of Agriculture
More Information
- Invasive Alien Plant Species of Virginia: What are Invasive Alien Plant Species and why are they a problem?—Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation
- Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas brochure (PDF) —Plant Conservation Alliance
- What the Heck is an Invasive Plant? brochure (PDF) —Plant Conservation Alliance
[Photos, left to right: Todd Pfeiffer, Klamath County Weed Control, Bugwood.org; Todd Pfeiffer, Klamath County Weed Control, Bugwood.org; Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org]