California Invasive Plant Council

Euphorbia myrsinites

Synonyms: Tithymalus myrsinites (L.) Hill

Common names: myrtle spurge, creeping spurge

Euphorbia myrsinites L. (myrtle spurge) is an evergreen perennial that is native to Eurasia and has been widely introduced as an ornamental. Plants typically grow to 4-8″ tall from a woody base. Stems are ascending or trailing. Oval, blue-green, fleshy leaves are arranged in close spirals around stems. Plants bloom in spring; flowers are inconspicuous and greenish, subtended by showy yellow bracts. Myrtle spurge is listed as noxious weed in Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Utah, as well as California. Its leaves contain a latex that is a skin irritant and toxic to animals. This species can spread aggressively and is difficult to control once established.

Cal-IPC Rating: Watch

CDFA Rating: A?

Explanation of CDFA ratings

• A – A pest of known economic or environmental detriment and is either not known to be established in California or it is present in a limited distribution that allows for the possibility of eradication or successful containment.
• B – A pest of known economic or environmental detriment and, if present in California, it is of limited distribution.
• C – A pest of known economic or environmental detriment and, if present in California, it is usually widespread.
• D – An organism known to be of little or no economic or environmental detriment, to have an extremely low likelihood of weediness, or is known to be a parasite or predator.
• Q – An organism or disorder suspected to be of economic or environmental detriment, but whose status is uncertain because of incomplete identification or inadequate information.
• * – An asterisk next to the rating indicates that a plant is included in the CCR Section 4500 list of California State Noxious Weeds.
• -* – This plant is included in the CCR Section 4500 list of California State Noxious Weeds, but is otherwise not rated.

More details

Assessment(s)

Euphorbia myrsinites Plant Risk Assessment - An evaluation of the potential for a plant to be invasive in California.

Weed Management Notes

Cal-IPC Newsletter Articles

• Inventory Update 2022. Burger, Jutta. Vol 30, Issue 1

Cal-IPC Symposium Presentations

Presentations are linked where available. Where a presentation is not available, find more information by reading the abstract in the Cal-IPC Symposia Archive.

• Weed Alerts and CDFA Update. Kelch, Dean (2015)

Other Euphorbia myrsinites Information

• Bugwood - National database from the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health at the University of Georgia.
• CalPhotos - Images of plants taken mostly in California.
• Calflora - Distribution map and records of this species in California.
• EDDMapS - Distribution of this species in North America.
• GBIF - Global distribution information.
• Jepson Interchange - Information on this plant's taxonomy, biology, and distribution from UC Berkeley's Jepson Herbarium.
• USDA PLANTS Database - Information on identification and distribution, with links to websites in individual states.
• The Plant List - Global taxonomic resource and collaborative clearinghouse from Kew Gardens, the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Missouri Botanic Garden and others.

Additional photos