Graveyard Weed 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
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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.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Slender, branched, green. These stems are terete and hairless.
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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
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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
