Eggleaf Spurge

Euphorbia oblongata

Family: Euphorbiaceae

Other Common Names: oblong spurge, Balkan spurge
Weed class: A
Year Listed: 1999
Native to: Turkey and Southeast Europe
Is this Weed Toxic?:

humans

Legal listings:

This plant is also on the Washington State quarantine list. It is prohibited to transport, buy, sell, offer for sale, or distribute plants or plant parts of quarantined species into or within the state of Washington or to sell, offer for sale, or distribute seed packets of seed, flower seed blends, or wildflower mixes of quarantined species into or within the state of Washington. Please see WAC 16-752 for more information on the quarantine list. For questions about the quarantine list, contact the Washington State Department of Agriculture's Plant Services Program at (360) 902-1874 or email PlantServices@agr.wa.gov. For noxious weed information see below.

Why Is It a Noxious Weed?

It was introduced as a garden ornamental and escaped cultivation. It’s closely related to, and exhibits invasive and competitive strategies similar to, leafy spurge (Euphorbia virgata) which is listed as a Washington State Class B noxious weed.

How would I identify it?

General Description

It is an upright perennial reaching to about three feet tall from a woody, branched taproot. Plant stems covered in fine white hairs and have leaves with finely toothed margins. Flowers bloom in spring and summer.

Flower Description

Flowers in clusters made up of small male flowers and one small female flower. Flower clusters have yellow bracts at their base followed by a whorl of yellowish green leaves.

Leaf description

The leaves are alternate, hairless and oblong with finely toothed margins. Leaves have a prominent midvein. They grow to about 2.6 inches long.

Stem description

Stems are upright and covered in white hairs, with branching at the tip.

Fruit Seed Description

Seeds are held in three lobed capsules. Seeds are brown and smooth and are ejected from capsules when ripe.

Where does it grow?

It is found in damp meadows, streambanks, shady woodlands as well as on dry hillsides, roadsides and waste areas. Please click here to see a county level distribution map of eggleaf spurge in Washington.

How Does it Reproduce?

Eggleaf spurge reproduces by seed and can grow from buds from the root crown, which can produce new stems or roots.

How Do I Control It?

Mechanical Control

Because of large taproot, the plant must be dug. Mowing will result in new shoots growing. Eggleaf spurge produces a milky latex sap so care should be taken when handling. If sap contacts skin make sure to wash that area.