Noxious Weeds Profile - Cypress Spurge

Names

• English - cypress spurge
• French - euphorbe cyprès
• Latin - Euphorbia cyparissias L.

Photos

Cypress Spurge

Current Status

• Ontario Weeds Act - noxious
• Other provinces - noxious in AB, MN, and QC
• Canadian Federal Seeds Act - no
• U.S. Federal Noxious Weed - no
• U.S. Noxious State Reg - 1 state (Colorado)

Poisonous/Cautions

• Pub 505 - May be toxic to cattle and horses. Milky juice irritating on bare skin and ptentially serious rash.
• NE Weeds - mildly toxic to cattle
  Canadian Poison Plant - Ingesting the plant has caused loss of cattle in New York State. This plant is usually avoided by livestock but is ingested if incorporated with hay. The plant is abundant in in some locations in southern Ontario. Some humans are sensitive to the irritant latex and may develop inflammation.
• Cornell Poison Plant - referred to Canadian site
• Indiana Toxic Plants: TOXICITY RATING: Moderate. Spurges are highly unpalatable, and are rarely consumed in quantities sufficient to cause serious toxicity, but are very irritating upon contact;
• ANIMALS AFFECTED: Any animal consuming spurge or coming in contact with the sap may be affected; DANGEROUS PARTS OF PLANT: All parts; CLASS OF SIGNS: Gastrointestinal irritation, dermal and ocular irritation, poor doer, weakness.

Distribution

• Can be found thorughout Ontario in waste areas and roadsides. Dufferin and Renfrew counties in particular.

Growth Habit

• Perennial

Method of Propagation

• Seeds, Roots/rhizome

Control

• Difficult to control with 2,4-D and intermediate for dicamba. Listed on 2,4-D, but not on Banvel or Roundup labels. Apply herbicide at early bud (flowers mid summer) or in early fall. Repeated mowing at 21 day intervals can be an effective control.

Related Links

• Ontario Weed Gallery: Spurge.
• Ontario Vegetation Management Association.