Euphorbia prostrata
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Chamaesyce prostrata
- Tithymalus prostratus
- Phonetic Spelling
- you-FOR-bee-uh prost-RAH-tuh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Prostrate spurge is an annual herb in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) with prostrate to ascending stems with ovate or oblong leaves. It is native to the Central and Southern United States and Tropical and Subtropical America. It is weedy and can be found in disturbed areas along the side of the road, waste areas, railroads, and even sidewalk cracks. It can also be found in lawns and gardens. The epithet, prostrata, means "lying on the ground" and references the weed's habit.
The plant prefers full sun to partial shade in dry, sandy or gravelly soils. Seedlings are very small but will flower when young. This plant is a prolific seeder. Seeds have limited or no dormancy and germinate quickly.
Prostrate spurge has slender prostrate to decumbent stems that measure 4 to 12 inches long. The leaves are green to purplish, simple, oblong or oval, and less than 0.5 inches long with finely toothed margins. The flowers are white to pinkish, tiny, cup-shaped with white petal-like structures surrounding the actual flowers. The fruit is a greenish to pinkish capsule
This weed is found in native gardens or meadows and lawns.
Quick ID Hints:
- Leaves and stems have white curled or crinkled hairs.
- Stems are red colored.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Prostrate spurge has no serious insect or disease problems.
Some people experience skin rashes from contact with the toxic sticky plant sap of euphorbias.
Management 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-managed by most pre-emergence herbicides labeled for use.
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:
- prostrata
- Family:
- Euphorbiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Extracts from the plant are used in India as a treatment for hemorrhoids.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and Southern U.S.A., Tropical to Subtropical America
- Distribution:
- Native: United States--AL, AZ, AR, CO, FL, GA, KS, LA, MS, MO, NE, NM, NC, OK, SC, SD, and TX; Argentin, Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Uzbekistan, Venezuela. Introduced: Europe, parts of Africa, parts of Asia, and parts of Australia, United States--CA, HI, IL, IN, IA, KY, MD, MA, MI, OH, PA, TN, UT, VA, WV, and WY.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Dry soils, heat tolerant.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 1 in. - 0 ft. 4 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 1 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Weed
- Habit/Form:
- Prostrate
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- 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:
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Pink
- 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 with long spreading hairs on a short stalk with each part containing 1 seed. The capsule initially hangs down becoming erect at maturity. The capsule size is 2 mm long and 1.5 mm wide. The seeds are light brown with a white covering that can be easily removed. They also have tiny pits on the surface with several transverse ridges.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are very small and are nearly indistinct. Plants flower in summer and early fall from June to September, then die after frost. Flowers are white to pinkish and appear in round clusters. They are cup-shaped and surrounded by white petal-like structures. The flower size in less than 1/16-inch in diameter.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are small, 0.25 to 0.5 inches long and half as wide, oblong or oval, and green to purplish. They are sparsely covered with white, curled or crinkled hairs. Often the leaves contain a purplish-red color around the edge. Leaves exude a milky sap when broken.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Scales:
- No scales, covered in hair
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are up to 12 inches long, typically prostrate, reddish colored, sparsely to densely covered in curled or crinkled hairs, and branching frequently, forming large circular mats. Stems exude a milky sap when broken.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Problems:
- 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
