Nodding Spurge

Biological Name:

Euphorbia nutans

Natural Habitat:

This plant is native to Europe and Asia, and can be found in a variety of habitats, including meadows, fields, and waste areas.

Description:

Nodding-spurge is a type of flowering plant that is commonly found in fields and other grassy areas. It is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family which also includes plants such as poinsettias and cassavas. Nodding-spurge is an annual or perennial plant that produces small white or yellow flowers and clusters of seeds. The plant is often used as a cover crop to improve soil health and suppress weeds. It is also known for its ability to tolerate a wide range of growing conditions including wet or dry soils. In some areas nodding-spurge is considered a weed because of its ability to invade cultivated areas and cause allergies and other health problems.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Is nodding spurge poisonous?
A: How poisonous is spurge? If the sap is released from the plant by chewing on it, it can cause irritation or a burning sensation of the lips, mouth, tongue, and throat. The irritation resulting from oral sap exposure can also cause a person to drool excessively.
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Q: Should I get rid of spurge?
A: To help lessen the chances of it coming back, remove spotted spurge before it has a chance to flower and produce seeds. Small patches of spotted spurge plants can also be killed using a read-to-use lawn weed killer, like ScottsScottsScotts was founded in 1868 by Orlando M. Scott as a premium seed company for the U.S. agricultural industry. In the early 1900s, the company began a lawn grass seed business for homeowners, and in 1924, became the first company to ship grass seed products directly to stores.https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Scotts_Miracle-Gro_CompanyScotts Miracle-Gro Company – Wikipedia® Spot Weed Control for Lawns.
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Q: Is spurge poisonous to dogs?
A: Mature plants have extensive root systems that may extend 15 or more feet into the soil and many have horizontal roots that enable the colony to enlarge by underground growth. Leafy spurge contains the alkaloid euphorbon, which is toxic to humans and animals and is a known co-carcinogen.
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Q: What will happen if you touch Euphorbia plants?
A: If you get the sap on your hands, it can cause painful inflammation. Alys Fowler, horticulturist, says: “Euphorbia sap causes skin to become photosensitive: so, if you handle it with bare skin in the sun, it can cause blisters.” If you get sap on your skin, you should wash the area thoroughly with soap and water.
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Q: Is spurge a good ground cover?
A: Most spurge will spread by underground rhizomes, creating dense mats of foliage. This makes it a great option as a groundcover or as a filler between taller plants.
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Q: Is spurge plant invasive?
A: Leafy spurge is an invasive species. Leafy spurge is on the Control noxious weed list meaning you must prevent the spread of this plant. Leafy spurge is tolerant of a wide range of conditions, from dry to moist and sunny to shade. It is found in roadsides and non-cropland disturbed environments.
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Q: How toxic is Euphorbia to dogs?
A: The pencil cactus, or Euphorbia tirucalli, is toxic to humans, dogs, and cats worldwide and can cause serious intestinal and skin injury, according to The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
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Q: How toxic is spurge?
A: Myrtle spurge is poisonous if ingested, causing nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. This plant exudes toxic, milky latex, which can cause severe skin and eye irritations. Wearing gloves, long sleeves, and shoes is highly recommended when in contact with Myrtle spurge, as all plant parts are con- sidered poisonous.
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Q: What is spurge good for?
A: Overview. Cypress spurge is a plant. The flowering plant and root are used to make medicine. Despite serious safety concerns, people take cypress spurge for breathing disorders, diarrhea, and skin diseases.
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Q: Does spurge deter moles?
A: The caper spurge, Euphorbia lathyris seeds freely producing a strange plant of architectural appearance. It is commonly known as mole plant because of its apparent ability to keep moles at bay. It seems to grow best on shallow chalk soils which are rarely favourite mole habitats.
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Q: Does spurge attract butterflies?
A: spurge (Euphorbia epithymoides polychroma) Benefits: Attracts: butterflies. Deer/rabbit resistant.
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Q: Is Flowering spurge poisonous?
A: Warning: Flowering Spurge has been used as a laxative, but large doses can be poisonous. Members of this genus are known to fatally poison cattle. Contact with plant, especially its milky sap, can cause irritation of skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. POISONOUS PARTS: All parts.
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Q: Are spurge plants poisonous to dogs?
A: Some people refer to the plants as “sticks of fire.”” They can be small enough to fit in a container or tree-sized. This plant’s white milky sap is toxic to pets and humans. If sap makes contact with the skin a painful rash develops at the point of contact.
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Q: Does spurge come back every year?
A: Since they are perennials, they come back each year. Throughout the year, flowers initially provide bright yellow colour but the foliage color on many can be green, variegated or turn maroon-red over the seasons, as with the spurge named Bonfire, so your landscape will have endless interest all year long.
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About the author

Samuel is a gardening professional and enthusiast who has spent over 20 years advising homeowners and farm owners on weed identification, prevention and removal. He has an undergraduate degree in plant and soil science from Michigan State University.