Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula)

Description:

Appearance: Perennial herbaceous plant, 2- 3 1/2' tall, erect branching, smooth stems growing from a deep vertical root. Stems, flowers, and leaves emit a white milky sap when broken.

Leaves: Alternate, small, oblong to lance-shaped, on the upper part of stem; scale-like on the lower part of the stem.

Flowers: Small, borne by showy yellow-green bracts which open in late May; flowers bloom from June into fall. Umbrella-shaped flower cluster, 7-10, at the top of each stem, single, stemmed flowers grow from leaf axils below.

Seeds: Explosive dispersal from a seed capsule up to 15'; high germination rate; seeds remain viable in the soil for 7 years.

Roots: Extensive deep root system, vegetative reproduction from crown and root buds.

Ecological Threat:

Rapidly invades primarily non-cropland disturbed environments, such as roadsides.
Is a threat primarily to moist and dry prairies and savannas, quickly displacing native plants.
Tolerant of a wide range of habitats, from dry to moist, and sunny to semi-shade. Most aggressive in dry soil conditions where there is less competition from native plants.
Native to Europe and Asia it occurs across much of the northern U.S. in the grasslands and savannas of the Great Plains.
Leafy spurge is on the MDA Prohibited noxious weeds list in Minnesota.

Control Methods:

Mechanical & Chemical

Prescribed burning in conjunction with repeated treatment with glyphosate + 2,4-D (one pint each per acre).

Imazapic(Plateau): Apply 1-1.3 oz/gallon water + 1 oz/gallon water methylated seed oil(MSO)for spot treatment of 8-12 oz per acre + MSO in late September thru October when native plants have gone dormant and leafy spurge has a second flush of growth (test: milky sap still emits from broken stem).

Biological

Root-boring beetle, four root-mining beetles, shoot-tip gall midge; grazing goats

Invasive species

Nature

Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula)

Description:

Ecological Threat:

Control Methods: