Leafy Spurge

Scientific name: Euphorbia esula L.

Common name: Leafy spurge

Native To: Eurasia

Date of U.S. Introduction: Early 1800s

Images: Invasive.org and Google

Means of Introduction: Introduced accidentally as a seed contaminant

Impact: Crowds out native species

Current U.S. Distribution:

• National Agricultural Pest Information System - Pest Tracker - Reported Status
• PLANTS Database map (see complete PLANTS Profile for county distribution and native status)
• Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System

U.S. States and U.S. National Parks Where Reported Invasive: Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States map

Management Plans: Plants / Leafy Spurge

Selected Internet Resources:

• Federal Government
• State Government
• University/Academic
• International
• Organizations

Euphorbia esula
Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
Taxonomy

Leafy Spurge - Integrated Pest Management Manual
DOI. National Park Service.
Identification/Description; Impacts; Life Cycle; Dispersion; Controls; Special Note: Excellent references section

Leafy Spurge Research - TEKTRAN database
USDA. Agricultural Research Service.
Research

The Ecological Areawide Management (TEAM) Leafy Spurge
USDA. Agricultural Research Service and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Distribution; Controls; Research

Euphorbia esula Article Citation Search - AGRICOLA Database
USDA. National Agricultural Library.
Research; Special Note: NAL Catalog Search (resources)

Euphorbia esula - Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)
USDA. ARS. National Genetic Resources Program.
Taxonomy; Legal Aspects

Biological Control of Leafy Spurge - Program Aid Number 1435 (Sep 1989)
USDA. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Impacts; Distribution; Controls

Leafy Spurge - Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States (Aug 2002)
BugwoodWiki.
Published by: USDA. Forest Service. Publication FHTET-2002-04.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Distribution; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Controls

Leafy Spurge - Weed of the Week (Feb 23, 2006; PDF | 83 KB)
USDA. FS. Northeastern Area. Forest Health Protection. Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Euphorbia esula - Fire Effects Information System (FEIS)
USDA. FS. Rocky Mountain Research Station. Fire Sciences Laboratory.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls; Special Note: References

Plant Profile for Euphorbia esula - PLANTS Database
USDA. NRCS. National Plant Data Center.
Taxonomy; Distribution; Legal Aspects

Leafy Spurge Distribution Map
DOI. National Atlas of the United States.
Distribution; Special Note: In top right menu, scroll to "Biology" (in the top right menu) and select Leafy Spurge in "Invasive Species" section

Euphorbia esula - An Assessment of Exotic Plant Species of Rocky Mountain National Park
DOI. Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center.
Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Controls; Special Note: References

Euphorbia esula - Species Abstracts of Highly Disruptive Exotic Plants at Pipestone National Monument
DOI. Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center.
Taxonomy; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls; Special Note: References

Euphorbia genus - EncycloWeedia
California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Leafy Spurge
Colorado Department of Agriculture. Noxious Weed Management Program.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Distribution; Controls

Integrated Weed Management of Leafy Spurge (PDF | 518 KB)
State of Colorado. Douglas County. Public Works.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Controls

Leafy Spurge - Noxious Weed Information Series (PDF | 208 KB)
State of Colorado. Jefferson County. Weed and Pest Management Program.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Habitat; Controls

Leafy Spurge - Vegetation Management Manual
Illinois Nature Preserves Commission.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Leafy Spurge - Official Control Program
Kansas Department of Agriculture. Plant Protection and Weed Control Program.
Identification/Description; Controls

Leafy Spurge - Missouri Vegetation Management Manual
Missouri Department of Conservation.
Identification/Description; Illustrations; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Leafy Spurge
State of Utah. Weber County Weed Abatement.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Habitat; Dispersion; Controls

Class B Noxious Weed: Leafy Spurge
Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls; Legal Aspects

Leafy Spurge
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Identification/Distribution; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Control; Special Note: Scientific review and assessment (PDF | 74 KB)

Leafy Spurge - Invasive Plant Species of Alaska (PDF | 75 KB)
University of Alaska - Anchorage. Alaska Natural Heritage Program.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Habitat; Controls

Leafy Spurge
Colorado State University. Cooperative Extension.
Identification/Description; Illustrations; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Euphorbia esula (Leafy spurge) - Invasive Plant Atlas of New England (IPANE)
University of Connecticut. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Leafy Spurge - Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States
University of Georgia. Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Distribution

Leafy Spurge - Noxious Weeds of Nebraska (PDF | 510 KB)
University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Cooperative Extension.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Life Cycle; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Leafy Spurge Wanted Poster--Dead, Not Alive! (PDF | 185 KB)
University of Nevada - Reno. Cooperative Extension.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Dispersion

Managing Leafy Spurge (PDF | 177 KB)
University of Nevada - Reno. Cooperative Extension.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Controls

Spurgia esula - Biological Control: A Guide to Natural Enemies in North America
Cornell University. New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. Department of Entomology.
Photographs; Impacts; Controls

Leafy Spurge Identification and Control and Leafy Spurge Control Using Flea Beetles and Controlling Leafy Spurge Using Goats and Sheep
North Dakota State University. Extension Service.
Identification/Description; Illustrations; Introduction History; Impacts; Controls

Integrated Management of Leafy Spurge
North Dakota State University. Extension Service.
Photographs; Illustrations; Controls

Leafy Spurge - Invasive Plant Fact Sheets (PDF | 2.11 MB)
University of Pennsylvania. Morris Arboretum; Delaware River Invasive Plant Partnership.
Identification/Description; Illustrations; Impacts; Habitat; Controls

Leafy Spurge (PDF | 184 KB)
Alberta Invasive Plant Council (Canada).
Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Controls

Leafy Spurge in Manitoba: Stakeholders
Brandon University (Canada). Rural Development Institute. Leafy Spurge Stakeholders Group.
Identification/Description; Controls

Leafy Spurge - Guide to Weeds in British Columbia
British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture Food and Fisheries (Canada).
Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Euphorbia esula (herb) - ISSG Global Invasive Species Database
World Conservation Union. Invasive Species Specialist Group.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Organizations

Euphorbia esula - Invasive Plants of California's Wildlands Book (2000)
California Invasive Plant Council.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Leafy Spurge
Colorado Weed Management Association.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion

Euphorbia esula
Discover Life.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Leafy Spurge - IVM Technical Bulletin
Integrated Pest Management Information Service.
Identification/Description; Impacts; Life Cycle; Distribution; Controls; Special Note: References

Leafy Spurge
Montana Weed Control Association.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Dispersion; Controls

Leafy Spurge
Plant Conservation Alliance. Alien Plant Working Group.
Identification/Description; Photograph; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Euphorbia esula
Pulling Together Initiative. Texasinvasives.org.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls; Special Note: References