Prostrate Spurge Euphorbia maculata
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Prostrate Spurge:
Previously known as:
- Chamaesyce maculata
- Chamaesyce matthewsii
- Chamaesyce supina
- Chamaesyce tracyi
- Euphorbia rayturneri
- Euphorbia supina
- Phonetic Spelling
- kam-ay-SY-kee mak-yuh-LAH-tuh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Spotted spurge is a summer annual weed with a prostrate growth habit that flourishes in warm climates and dies back after frost. It is typically found in sidewalk cracks, gravel, roadsides, gardens, and sometimes woodlands. The small, oblong leaves grow opposite on the stem and have an irregular maroon to purple spot in the center. When stems are broken or injured they emit a milky white sap similar to dandelion. The plant forms a thick taproot, which can extend two feet into the soil, and it rarely or never roots at the leaf nodes. The small greenish-white flowers appear in summer and early fall. Even tiny seedlings can flower and set prolific amounts of seed with limited or no dormancy. It is not recommended as a cultivated plant for most gardens.
Because spurges flower when young and have little or no seed dormancy, weed populations can increase rapidly. Remove plants as quickly as possible to reduce seed production; though they can be time-consuming to hand weed due to the number of seedlings that form. Mowing is ineffective because plants grow so close to the ground. Spurges are well-managed by most preemergence herbicides labeled for use.
Spotted spurge is similar to Euphorbia prostrata and is also known by the common name, Prostrate Spurge. They can be easily distinguished from each other because Euphorbia prostrata has shorter leaves that are more rounded at the tips and there is no spot in the center.
Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: There are no known diseases or insect problems. This plant spreads aggressively. Spurges are some of the most common warm-season weeds in container nurseries, agriculture, and landscape ornamental beds.
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:
- maculata
- Family:
- Euphorbiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The sap of spotted spurge is being studied for its treatment of skin cancer.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeast Canada to Belize, Cuba, and Bahamas
- Distribution:
- Canada, United States and part of Mexico.
- Edibility:
- toxic if eaten
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 1 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Weed
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Prostrate
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fast growing, tiny 3-lobed, hairy egg-shaped pale brown capsule. Seeds grow fast, have little to no dormancy period, are hydrophilic, and can adhere to surfaces when they are wet.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The cup-shaped "flowers" are axillary, the petal-like appendages are greenish-white with pink to white on the rim.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Small, dark green 1 1/2 inch, leaves with reddish green tint that are round or oblong. Some have a large dark spot on the leaf blade as well as small teeth on the margins.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Hairy
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Slender hairy stems spread out in a mat along the ground with each stem rarely greater than 18 inches long. Stems often turning a pale red in bright sunlight.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- 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:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Sap/Juice
- Seeds
- Stems
