Identification of Euphorbia

Lawn Weed Euphorbia

• The common lawn weed spotted spurge, Euphorbia maculata, grows close to the ground in a dense mat that can invade lawns, garden beds and containers. It has dark-green leaves about ½ inch long and bears tiny pink flowers in clusters. The taproot can extend 24 inches. When weeding, protect hands from the poisonous sap. It grows in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 9.

Flowering Euphorbia

• The Euphorbia characias wulfenii is a flowering perennial plant with narrow blue-green leaves and chartreuse flower clusters that bloom in late winter or early spring. It grows to 4 feet high in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 to 10.

Groundcover Euphorbia

• Myrtle spurge, Euphorbia myrsinites, is a low-growing groundcover that creeps along open areas and will spill over rock gardens or edges of beddings. It is self-sowing and can become invasive. The milky sap can irritate skin or cause illness if ingested. Its seafoam green foliage provides good color for landscape design. Myrtle spurge is hardy in zone 5 to 8.

Shrub Euphorbia

• Euphorbia cotinifolia, or Tropical Smoke Bush, has woody stems and reddish, oval-shaped, evergreen leaves that turn to dark burgundy on older plants. Unchecked, it can grow to tree size, and features tiny flowers in the spring. In cold climates, it becomes deciduous and foliage dies back in the winter. It is hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 11. Like other euphorbias, it produces milky sap.

Tree Euphorbia

• Euphorbia tirucalli, called the Pencil Tree or Finger Tree, bears spiny, pencil-like branches, with small leaves that live only a short time. This Euphoria variety can grow to 30 feet tall in the wild, but can be pruned to remain small for containers or accent areas.

  It is hardy in zone 11.