Nodding Spurge Euphorbia nutans
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Chamaesyce nutans
- Tithymalus nutans
- Phonetic Spelling
- yoo-FOR-bee-uh NUT-ans
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Nodding spurge is a weedy annual or short-lived perennial herb in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) native to the Eastern and Central United States, Southeastern Canada, Central America, the Caribbean, Colombia, and Venezuela. The specific epithet, nutans, means "drooping" and references the nodding stems. This plant is found in disturbed areas along roads, railroad tracks, river and stream beds, gardens, and lawns. The nodding spurge is very similar to hyssop spurge but leaves are generally larger and younger foliage is softly hairy, losing hairs with age.
Nodding spurge prefers full sun and well-draining soil but adapts to various soil conditions. It tolerates drought and humidity; however, wet soil conditions often cause root rot. It can be propagated by stem cuttings, and it can also readily reseed itself.
The stems are pinkish-red, round, and hairy when young. The lower part of the stem is erect, but it tends to droop at the end of the branches. The leaves are green with a red blotch in the center on the upper surface and is a lighter green on the undersides. They are oval to oblong with either serrated or entire margins, and the surface of young leaves have finely curled hairs.. As with all euphorbias, nodding spurge exudes a milky sap from the stems and leaves that can be toxic.The flowers are small clusters of cup-shaped, greenish-pink and white blooms at the ends of the branches. The fruit is a tiny, 3-lobed capsule containing one seed in each lobe.
This plant is best found in native gardens or meadows and lawns. Preliminary research suggests that nodding spurge is generally well-controlled by most herbicides that list "spurge" as a susceptible species.
Quick ID Hints:
- Pinkish-red stems
- Oblique leaf base
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Nodding spurge has no serious insect or disease problems. Overwatering can cause root rot.
Some people experience skin rashes from contact with the toxic sticky plant sap of euphorbias. Wears protective gloves when handling this plant. Keep this plant out of reach of small children and pets.
Management Guidelines for Spurges: Because spurges flower when young and have little or no seed dormancy, weed populations can increase rapidly. Remove plants when young to reduce seed production. They are time-consuming to hand weed due to the number of seedlings that form. Some species may forcefully discharge seeds. Spurges are well-controlled by most pre-emergence herbicides labeled for use.
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:
- nutans Lag.
- Family:
- Euphorbiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used as a poison and medicine.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeast Canada to Northern Venezuela and the Caribbean
- Distribution:
- Native: Canada--Ontario, Quebec; United States--AL, AR, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA WV, and WI; Central America and Caribbean--Belize, Bermuda, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico: South America--Colombia and Venezuela. Introduced: Albania, Austria, Bolivia, Bulgaria, China, Czechoslovakia, Ecuador, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Japan, Lebanon-Syria, Manchuria, Morocco, New Zealand, North Caucasus, Palestine, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, Transcaucasus, Turkey, and the United States--CA, WA, and WY.
- Wildlife Value:
- The nectar of the flowers attract bees, flies, and wasps. The seeds are eaten by mourning doves and the foliage is eaten by wild turkeys. Mammals rarely eat this plant due to the toxic sap in the stems and leaves.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Sandy soils
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Weed
- Habit/Form:
- Open
- Weeping
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 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:
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Extending out from the flower center is a 3-parted capsule on a short stalk with each part containing 1 seed. The capsule often has a reddish tint. The capsule is 0.1-inch wide. The seeds are oval to oblong, sometimes dark brown, 1 to 1.6 mm long with wavy surface.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Has small clusters (cyathium) of cup-shaped greenish-pink and white flowers at the tips of the branches. The cup measure 1/8 inch across and holds the male and female flowers. Plants flower from June to October, and then die after frost occurs.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Velvety
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Green leaves have an oblique leaf base and sometimes have red blotch in the middle on the upper surface. The lower surface of the leaf is a lighter green. The leaves are opposite, oblong to oval oblong, up to 2 inches long and 3/4 inch wide, and the leaf edges are coarsely serrated, toothed, and sometimes entire. The surface of the young leaves have finely curled hairs. The leaves will exude a milky sap if broken.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are often pinkish-red colored, round, hairy on new growth, becoming smooth with age. The lower stem is erect but spreading in the upper part of the plant, drooping at the ends of the branches. The stem will exude a milky sap when broken.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Humidity
- 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:
- Leaves
- Sap/Juice
- Stems
