Spurge Euphorbia hirta
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Spurge:
Previously known as:
- Chamaesyce gemella
- Chamaesyce hirta
- Euphorbia gemella
- Phonetic Spelling
- yoo-FOR-bee-uh HER-tuh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Garden spurge is an herbaceous annual plant considered to be a warm-season weed in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae). It originates from tropical and subtropical North America but has spread to South America, Asia and Australia. It is found in lawns, agricultural areas, roadsides and in the nursery trade. The genus name, Euphorbia, honors a Greek physician, Euphorbus.
This pant is erect to prostrate growing 1-2 feet tall with a similar spread. It tolerates full sun to full shade. It tolerates most growing conditions including poor soils and locations such as a crack in the sidewalk. Each plant can produce thousands of seeds over the growing season. As with most euphorbias, the stems contain a milky sap that may cause contact dermatitis for some.
The tiny flowers are produced in small clusters in the leaf axils and are green to brown to pinkish in color. Leaves are green with some purple coloring. Stems are densely hairy.
Control of this plant can be done by hoeing or hand pulling. Mulch will help prevent seeds from germinating as they need light to do so. Chemical control can be done with most postemergence herbicides and systemic herbicides such as glyphosate.
It is widely used in herbal medicine and can be grown for this purpose. One could also use it as a ground cover if desired.
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:
- hirta
- Family:
- Euphorbiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Traditional medicinal herb in some tropical countries.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Tropical and Subtropical North America
- Edibility:
- Herbal teas can be made from the leaves
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Poisonous
- Weed
- Habit/Form:
- Ascending
- Prostrate
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit is in the form of a hairy yellow capsule. Fruits from a single plant can produce up to 3000 tiny, oblong, four-sided seeds
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Irregular
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The tiny flowers have no petals and occur in ball-shaped clusters (Cyathia) in the leaf axils. Reduced, bract-like leaves occur under the inflorescences
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Doubly Serrate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Green leaves may have purple spots and are 1/2 to 1.5 inches long. They have a pointed tip, toothed margins and are oblong to lanceolate in shape.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The purplish stems are densely hairy and are filled with a milky white latex/sap.
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Landscape:
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Compaction
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Poor Soil
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- 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
