Spurge Euphorbia palustris
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Spurge:
- Phonetic Spelling
- yoo-FOR-bee-uh pal-US-triss
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Bog Spurge is an upright herbaceous perennial in the Euphorbiaceae (spurge) family with chartreuse leaves and flowers that typically grows 2 - 3 feet tall (sometimes you'll find it taller). It is native to marshland in Europe and western Asia. Euphorbia is named after Euphorbus, a Greek physician who served King Juba of Numidia in 12BC. Palustris means marsh-loving.
Plant in full to partial sun in well-drained moist to wet soils but will adapt to a wide variety of soils. It tolerates browsing by deer and rabbits and is tolerant of drought, wet and shallow-rocky soils. Propagation is by seed or stem cutting. Plants may show some stress in hot and humid summers. As with all euphorbias, bog spurge exudes a milky sap from the stems and leaves that can be toxic.
Mass plant it in a border or let it naturalize in a cottage, woodland, or rain garden.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Bog spurge has no serious insect or disease problems. Some people experience skin rashes from contact with the toxic sticky plant sap of euphorbias. Aphids, mealybugs, nematodes and spider mites may appear.
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:
- palustris
- Family:
- Euphorbiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe, western Asia
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Tolerant of wet soils and rocky soils and are not often visited by deer or rabbits.
- Edibility:
- Poisonous
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- 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:
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- Bracts
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Chartreuse flowers that lack petals or sepals bloom late spring to early summer and are not particularly showy on their own. But, the flowers are shaped in large 6" wide clusters known as cyathium which are surrounded by large, long-lasting, greenish-yellow bracts which are exceptionally showy. The flower color comes from these bracts.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Medium green elliptical leaves 2"-3" long. Yellow/orange/red fall color.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Rain Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Rabbits
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Dogs
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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
