Myrtle Spurge

How to Identify and Remove Myrtle Spurge

Scientific name: Euphorbia myrsinites

Life cycle: Perennial (lives more than two years)

Why it’s a problem:

It’s not native to Utah, and doesn't contribute to the ecosystems that it invades. Wildlife won't eat it.
It takes important resources from the ground that native plants need.
Its white sap can cause rashes if it gets on your skin and temporary blindness if it gets in your eye.
It has allelopathic properties, meaning it produces chemicals that keep other plants from growing near it.
Although it’s pretty, water wise, and evergreen, and it may benefit your home landscape, it's too good at escaping!

Click the arrows on the right and left-hand side of each photo, or swipe left or right on your phone to scroll through the slideshow.

Hand-pulling Myrtle Spurge is very effective

It’s easier to pull out when the ground is wet. If the ground is dry, a hand tool like the one pictured here is great. Dig down under the plant and wedge the taproot in that little notch, then lever up.
Try to remove as much of the taproot from the ground as you can.
Wear gloves! We can’t say it enough!
Don't let the sap come in contact with your eyes. Wear goggles or sunglasses while pulling, if possible.

If the plant isn’t flowering, you can leave it on the ground so that its nutrients decompose back into the soil.

Once the plant is flowering, it’s forming seeds that can potentially still grow new plants if left behind.

If you can’t bag the whole plant, try to bag up at least the flowers and put them in the garbage.
Invasive weed seeds are NOT green waste -- they need to go in the garbage.

For more information on Myrtle Spurge, check out Salt Lake County's website.

To get even more involved, join our project on iNaturalist!