prostrata), is an extremely common invasive weed.
It is native to Eastern North America and often grows out of sidewalk cracks and along walkways.
Read on to learn more about identifying spurge weed, its growing conditions, and how to remove it.
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How Invasive Is Spurge Weed?
Spurge weed is a common invasive weed native to eastern North America.
It spreads via tiny seeds, has a deep tap root, and grows quickly during summer.
The Spruce / Heidi Kolsky
Spurge weed also seems to flourish in periods of drought.
Life Cycle of Spurge Weed
Spurge weed sprouts in late spring or early summer.
It grows from a long, thin taproot.
The Spruce / Heidi Kolsky
It also flowers about two weeks after sprouting and self-seeds.
With adequate water, its seeds can germinate throughout the growing season until frost, when it dies.
The seeds tend to germinate in warm soil once temperatures reach 75 degrees consistently.
The Spruce / Heidi Kolsky
It is sometimes classified as part of the Chamaesyce genus calledChamaesyce maculata,which may cause confusion.
Spurge weed has a lacy web link of thin stems with small oval blue-green leaves on both sides.
Sometimes, the stems have a reddish tinge.
Euphorbia serpensJoe DiTomaso / Getty Images
Spurge weed spreads out in a flat oval or wheel shape wherever it grows instead of growing upwards.
It can sometimes spread to a foot wide but usually grows to about 6 or 7 inches in diameter.
It may grow upwards in a loose clump 1 to 4 inches tall in some spots.
Euphorbia peplusMIMOHE / Getty Images
The flowers are very tiny, sometimes a pale pink color, but often appear to be pale green.
Removing Spurge Weed
Spurge weed is relatively easy to pull out.
But removing every bit of the tap root is difficult as it is very thin and grows deep.
Euphorbia nutansMiyuki-3 / Getty Images
More often than not, the weed will regenerate from that taproot.
Dig around the plant to loosen the taproot before pulling it up.
Diligently pulling it every time can eventually weaken the taproot and kill it.
This is especially effective after pulling, as it may helpkill the remaining roots.
Always check your nursery plants before transplanting them, and carefully remove any weeds.
Spurge grows well in compacted soils, where its thin but strong tap root takes hold.
Similarly, these herbicides are not recommended if you are trying to attract pollinators to your garden.
Spotted Spurge Weed vs. Other Spurges
All spurges are troublesome weeds, reproducing easily by self-sowing seed.
And they all have toxic milky sap.
Prostrate spurge and creeping spurge act as groundcovers like spotted spurge.
A good thing about spotted spurge is its spreading stem nodes don’t root as its stems branch out.
Unlike prostrate and spotted spurge, creeping spurge has no markings on its leaves.
They have small purple-brown or maroon splotches at the leaf centers.
Petty spurge is much less invasive than spotted and creeping spurge species.
Garden, nodding, and thyme-leafed spurges are also less problematic than other spurges.
It also thrives in thin soil and drought, making it very determined to grow.
Removing the first sign of growth throughout the season is the best way to keep it under control.
A pre-emergent herbicide may also be used.
Spotted Spurge and Other Spurges Management Guidelines.
Lawn and Turfgrass Weeds: Spotted Spurge.Penn State Extension.
Colorado Weed Management Association.
New Mexico State University.
