Scientific Name:
Euphorbia esula
Pronunciation:
you-FOR-bee-uh ESS-you-luh
Common Name:
green spurge, leafy spurge
Family Name:
Euphorbiaceae
Plant Type:
Herbaceous perennial, Invasive plant
Key ID Features:
Leaves alternate, broadly linear to narrowly oblong, 3-9cm long x 3-8mm wide, with a slightly wavy margin; umbels with a basal pair of bright yellow-green petal-like bracts, May-Jul; capsule-like schizocarps, 3 lobed, exploding when mature to release seeds several meters.
Habit:
Dense, Upright
Form:
Oval - horizontal, Vase
Texture:
Medium - fine
Mature Height:
0.7 - 1.3m
Mature Spread:
0.3 - 0.6m
Growth Rate:
Moderate
Origin:
Europe
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 3: (-40 to -34 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Humus rich, Well-drained
Water Use:
Moderate
Landscape Uses:
Mixed shrub border, Rock garden, Woodland margin (Caution: poisonous parts)
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Colour in Fall:
Orange, Purple, Red
Shapes:
Linear, Oblong
Margins:
Undulate (wavy)
Inflorescence Type:
Cyathium, Floriferous
Flower Morphology:
Monoecious plant
Number Of Petals:
0
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, Yellow, Green-yellow
Flower Time at Peak:
May, Jun, Jul
Additional Info:
cyathia each with one female floret and five male florets below
Fruit Type:
Schizocarp
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Jul, Aug, Sep
Additional Info:
Mericarps (3) split open to release a single seed
Bark or Stem Colour:
Green
Organ Modifications:
Leaf-like bracts
Propagation:
Seed
Pest Susceptibility:
(Pest resistant, Disease resistant, Deer resistant, Rabbit resistant, Drought tolerant)
