Field Guide: Invasive - Leafy Spurge Missouri Department of Conservation. See also: Invasive and Problem Plant Control (scroll to Invasive Plants section) for more information to help you identify and control most common invasive plants in Missouri

Leafy spurge is an invader of pastures, grasslands, prairies, and roadsides. It grows in full to part sun in a wide range of soil types, from dry to moist. Each plant can produce large clumps of shoots from extensive underground stems and roots allowing the weed to overtake other vegetation quickly.

Euphorbia esula, commonly known as green spurge or leafy spurge, [1] is a species of spurge native to central and southern Europe (north to England, the Netherlands, and Germany), and eastward through most of Asia north of the Himalaya to Korea and eastern Siberia.

How to identify leafy spurge. Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) is a perennial herbaceous plant, two to four feet tall. Stems, flowers and leaves emit a white milky sap when broken. Stem. Erect, smooth stems branch at the top. Leaves. On the lower part of the stem, one to four inch leaves are smooth and lance shaped; more ovate near flower. Flowers

Leafy spurge is a long-lived perennial that reproduces both by seed and underground adventitious buds on the root and root crown. Each flowering stem can produce between 30 and 130 seeds, and seed production per acre ranges from 25 to 4,000 …

Leafy spurge is an herbaceous plant that can grow up to four feet tall. It can cover open grassy areas, decrease native plant species, and reduce forage for grazing animals. Managers have released biological control insects to reduce the abundance of leafy spurge in Minnesota.

Leafy spurge is a noxious, introduced, aggressive invader plant that can overtake large areas, displace desirable plant communities, and reduce aesthetic and economic values and wildlife habitat. Cattle and horses avoid leafy spurge.

Photos and information about Minnesota flora - Leafy Spurge: flat cluster of yellowish-green bracts with 1/8-inch yellowish-green flowers

Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.) is a creeping perennial that reproduces from seed and vegetative root buds. It can reduce cattle carrying capacity of rangeland or pastures by 50 to 75 percent. Leafy spurge is difficult to control.

Jul 1, 2020 · General description: Erect, branching plant reaching heights of 3 ft. Stems and leaves emit white sap when cut. Leaves are alternately arranged, linear to lanceolate, up to 4 in long with smooth margins. Flowers arranged in an umbel and are surrounded by showy, yellow-green bracts. Key ID traits: Milky sap, linear leaves.