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Cypress Spurge Euphorbia cyparissias

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
yoo-FOR-bee-ah sy-par-ISS-see-as
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Cypress Spurge is a herbaceous perennial herb with erect stems, narrow leaves, and yellow, crescent-shaped glands on the rim of its cup-shaped flowers. The mature plant resembles small spruce or cypress tree. The soft, needle-like foliage is much like a bottlebrush in appearance and the chartreuse flowers crowd together at the tips of the stems. Note that the milky latex sap that seeps from broken leaves and stems can be toxic to skin and eyes. Be sure to wear gloves and eye protection when handling this plant

Cypress Spurge grows best in dry, well-drained soils in full sun. The plant tolerates poor soils, including rocky, sandy ones. It spreads by rhizomes and can be quite invasive, particularly in rich, moist soils, and freely reseeds. Eight to ten plants per square yard are sufficient to quickly form a dense ground cover. It tolerates drought and can often be found on dry banks and hillsides where little else will grow.

Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: Cypress Surge is relatively pest and disease-free. It is a quickly spreading perennial that can overwhelm other, nearby, perennials. 

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti", a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.

More information on Euphorbia.

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Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#vigorous#poisonous#drought tolerant#herbaceous perennial#groundcover#fantz#poor soils tolerant#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for children#perennial#weed
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#vigorous#poisonous#drought tolerant#herbaceous perennial#groundcover#fantz#poor soils tolerant#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for children#perennial#weed
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Euphorbia
    Species:
    cyparissias
    Family:
    Euphorbiaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Europe to North West Turkey
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts bees and other insects.
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Tolerates drought and poor soil
    Edibility:
    Toxic
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Poisonous
    Wildflower
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Erect
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    Each seed capsule contains up to 3 seeds. Individual seeds are 2-3 mm. long and ovoid-oblongoid in shape; they have smooth surfaces.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Red/Burgundy
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Umbel
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Flower Petals:
    Bracts
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Numerous tiny flowers appear in umbel-like clusters in spring. Flowers lack petals and sepals, and primarily consist of showy lime-yellow bracts which age to red. Blooms from April to June. The flowers crowd at branch tips and arrang themselves in pseudo-umbels. Cyathia is enclosed in 5-lobed involucre with yellow glands subtended by two or more chartreuse bracts.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Soft
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Linear
    Oblong
    Orbicular
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves resemble a large bottlebrush. Leaves are narrow and contain milky sap that is toxic. The uppermost leaves are whorled or opposite while the lower leaves are alternate. Foliage is 1.5 inches long, 9 to 11 ray leaves are linear-oblong. Raylet bract-leaves are rhombic to suborbicular, chartreuse, becoming lilac to red-tinged.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    Slender, branched, green. These stems are terete and hairless.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Slope/Bank
    Landscape Theme:
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Design Feature:
    Mass Planting
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Pollution
    Poor Soil
    Rabbits
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Children
    Problem for Dogs
    Weedy
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    The milky white latex sap found in all plant parts can cause mild to severe contact dermatitis. If contact with the eyes occurs the sap can cause temporary to permanent damage to the cornea. If eaten, blistering can occur on lips and oral mucosa. Avoid ingesting plant parts and keep plants away from pets and children.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Diterpene esters in milky latex
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    Yes
    Poison Part:
    Sap/Juice