Cypress Spurge—Euphorbia cyparissias

An aggressive invasive perennial which crowds out native species, cypress spurge prefers sandy or gravelly soils. It is found in meadows, pastures, cemeteries, roadsides, gardens, dunes, and grasslands.

cypress spurge in fieldCypress spurge plants grow 6 to 10 inches tall. Leaves and stems emit a milky sap when broken.

cypress spurgeYellowish-green flowers grow in bunches at the ends of the stems. Flowers turn reddish green as they mature.

young cypress spurgeMany branched stems are covered with numerous narrow leaves, each ½ to 1¼ inches long.

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[Photos, left to right: Todd Pfeiffer, Klamath County Weed Control, Bugwood.org; Todd Pfeiffer, Klamath County Weed Control, Bugwood.org; Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org]