Mountain Spurge Euphorbia marginata
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Agaloma marginata
- Dichrophyllum marginatum
- Lepadena marginata
- Tithymalus marginatus
- Tithymalus variegatus
- Phonetic Spelling
- yoo-FOR-bee-ah mar-jin-AH-tah
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Snow on the mountain is an annual forb in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) native to the Great Plains that has been cultivated in gardens and has escaped into the wild in many other states. It is weedy in disturbed areas including pastures, waste lands, and can be found growing along roadsides. The specific epithet, marginata, is in reference to the white leaf margins.
They prefer full sun and tolerate poor soils as long as they are well-drained. In hot summer climates some protection from the hot afternoon sun may be needed. Too much shade will cause the plants to be floppy. They are deer and drought-resistant. Plants will reseed themselves in the garden.
These ornamental plants grow on a single stem 1 to 3 feet tall that is usually unbranched. The attractive medium green leaves appear in the spring and then the upper leaves become edged in white near the stem ends and sometimes become all white. The flowers are small clusters of narrow, greenish-yellow, cup-shaped cyathia that bloom at the end of the stems and have long-lasting petal-like white bracts. The blooms are seen from July to September. The fruits are 3-valved capsules that are covered with dense white hairs.
Use this plant in naturalized areas, borders or as an annual ground cover for sunny dry areas.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Watch for aphids. Can be weedy.
Stems and leaves contain a milky latex sap that can cause contact dermatitis for some. Be sure to wear protective gloves. Keep this plant out of the reach of children and pets. It is toxic if ingested.
VIDEO Created by Laura Barth 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:
- marginata
- Family:
- Euphorbiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- West Central & Central U.S.A. to East & South Mexico
- Distribution:
- Now found in AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI, WV, WY
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract various pollinators
- Play Value:
- Colorful
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Rabbit, Deer, Drought, Air Pollution
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- 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 pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is three-parted capsule that measures 6-8 mm across and is round to egg-shaped. It is covered with dense white hairs. The capsule is green that matures to dark gray and contains three ridged seeds that measure 3-4 mm long.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- Bracts
- Flower Description:
- Broad, white margins on leafy bracts surround the center which consists of many male flowers surrounding a single female flower. The greenish-yellow true flowers appear in clusters called cyathia at the stem ends from mid-summer to early fall.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Variegated
- White
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are green with white margins and up to 3.5 inches long and 1.5 inches wide. They are oblong to elliptical in shape with a pointed tip, entire margins and stemless. They are alternate on the stem but may be whorled in the upper flowering branches.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- the stems are light green and then turn light yellow to reddish brown. Younger stems are covered with white hairs. As the plant matures the stems become smooth. The stems have a milky latex sap.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Pollution
- Poor Soil
- Rabbits
- 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
- Seeds
- Stems
