Leafy Spurge. Green spurge
Euphorbia esula

Family: Euphorbiaceae

What it is like

Euphorbia esula is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 0.4 m (1ft 4in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 1

Where it is found

Found on prairies, savannas, mountain meadows, and near woodlands. It grows in fields and waste places.

Eurasia. Native to central and southern Europe, and eastward through most of Asia north of the Himalaya to Korea and eastern Siberia. Currently found worldwide with the exception of Australia and New Zealand.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Currently found worldwide with the exception of Australia and New Zealand.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 4

Euphorbia esula has nutrient value similar to alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.) and provides nutritious forage for sheep and goats. Potential as a whole-plant biomass as a locally grown fuel crop for home-heating purposes (Maxwell et al., 1985). A high protein feed stock for grazing sheep and goats (Fox et al., 1991; Sedivec et al., 1995). The high protein diet result in very high quality mohair in angora goats (Stoneberg, 1989). High in hydrocarbon latex - possibly a good col-hardy hydrocarbon species. Leafy spurge hay burns with 4x the energy of wheat straw. Dynamic accumulator.

Experimental Crop: Plant breeders are testing these plants to see if they could be domesticated for cultivation, but they are still in an experimental phase. Examples include milkweed and leafy spurge.

Management: Hay: Cut to the ground and harvested annually. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.

Experimental Crop: Plant breeders are testing these plants to see if they could be domesticated for cultivation, but they are still in an experimental phase. Examples include milkweed and leafy spurge.

Management: Hay: Cut to the ground and harvested annually. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

Dynamic accumulator: Plants that gather minerals or nutrients from the soil and store them in a more bioavailable form and in high concentration in their tissues. Used as fertilizer or to improve mulch.

How it is grown

Climate: boreal to subtropical. Humidity: arid to humid. Prefers areas of full sunlight and dry soil but can tolerate a variety of habitats including temperatures as low as -45C (-49F). A deep-rooted perennial plant. Roots grow twice as fast in sandy soil as in clay soil. Roots in clay soil have greater branching than those in sandy soil. High levels of soil nitrogen can reduce the biomass of leafy spurge roots and lead to greater root concentrations near the top of the soil profile (U.S. Forest Service). Especially aggressive in semi-arid situations. Adapted to a wide range of conditions, from moist to dry with annual rainfalls as low as 180mm (7"). It grows as clusters with upright stems, 0.3 to 1m tall. Cultivation: experimental. Management: hay (Describes the non-destructive management systems that are used in cultivation).

Propagating it: It can grow from seed or from creeping roots. Reproduces readily like by seeds that have a high germination rate and may remain viable in the soil for at least eight years.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 3-9

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

The sap contains a latex which is toxic on ingestion and highly irritant externally, causing photosensitive skin reactions and severe inflammation, especially on contact with eyes or open cuts. The toxicity can remain high even in dried plant material. Prolonged and regular contact with the sap is inadvisable because of its carcinogenic nature.

A highly competitive plant. Once established, it tends to displace native grasses, forbs and most other vegetation in pastures, rangelands and natural areas. Invades natural areas and suppresses other vegetation. Its roots reach down 12 feet or more, and once established it is very difficult to control. It spreads both underground and by seed. Its cultivation is prohibited in ten US states and is declared a noxious weed in twelve others. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has placed this species on its list of 100 of the world's worst invasive species.

Its other names

Local names

Hungarian spurge; wolf's milk, Euphorbe esule, Esels- Wolfsmilch; Scharfe Wolfsmilch, Heksenmelk, Vargtoerel, Faitours-grass, Green spurge, Leafy spurge

Synonyms

Esula angustifolia Haw. Euphorbia gmelinii Steudel. Euphorbia intercedens Podp. ex Harrington. Euphorbia poderae Croizat. Euphorbia pseudovirgata (Schur) Soó. Euphorbia x pseudovirgata (Schur) Soó. Euphorbia zhigulienis Prokh. Galarhoeus esula (L.) Rydb. Tithymalus esula (L.) Hill.