Creeping Spurge.

De un vistazo

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Herbaceous perennial

Light

Full sun

Indoor light

direct

Water

Every 7 to 14 days

Mature size

5 to 10 cm tall, 30 to 60 cm spread

Growth rate

fast

Hardiness

USDA 7 to 11

Bloom time

Late spring to early autumn

Cuidados

This plant is quite hardy and needs very little attention once established. Keep an eye out for its rapid spread, as it can easily outcompete desired plants in your garden. If you need to remove it, make sure to pull the entire root system to prevent it from coming back.

Watering

Water only when the soil has dried out completely, as this plant prefers dry conditions.

Feeding

It rarely needs fertilizer, but a light application in spring can support growth.

Pruning

Trim back stems if the plant begins to spread into areas where it is not wanted.

Repotting

Repot only if the plant has outgrown its container or the soil has become depleted.

Soil

Well draining, sandy or rocky soil

Soil pH

Neutral to slightly alkaline

Temperature

-10 to 35°C

Humidity

20 to 50%

Drought tolerance

high

Lifespan

Annual or short lived perennial.

Deer and rabbits

high

Seguridad

People

The milky sap is highly irritating to the skin and eyes and is considered toxic if ingested.

Pets

The milky sap is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested or if it contacts their skin.

Children

Keep this plant away from children due to the toxic, irritating sap that can cause serious eye injury.

Contact allergens

The white latex sap can cause severe contact dermatitis or blistering upon skin exposure.

Airborne allergens

There is no significant evidence that this plant causes respiratory allergies.

Edibility

This plant is not edible and should never be consumed.

Cómo identificarla

• Prostrate, mat forming growth habit
• Small, opposite, oval shaped leaves
• Milky white sap inside stems
• Tiny, inconspicuous flowers
• Stems often reddish or purplish

Height

0.02 to 0.1m

Spread

0.2 to 0.6m

Leaves

green, deciduous

Flowers

white, green, 0.2 to 0.5cm

Fruit

green, brown

Problemas frecuentes

• Root rot — This occurs when the soil stays too wet for too long, causing the roots to decay.

Cómo cultivarla

Propagation

seed, cuttings

When to plant

spring, summer

Overwintering

In colder regions, it typically dies back to the ground after the first frost.

In containers

It grows well in shallow, wide containers, provided the drainage is excellent.

Pair this plant with other low water, sun loving species to create a stable, drought resistant ground cover.

Buenas compañeras

• Blue Grama — This grass provides a nice textural contrast while sharing similar water needs.
• Prickly Pear — They both thrive in hot, dry, sunny conditions.

Especies parecidas

• Spotted Spurge — It shares a very similar growth habit and milky sap.

Ciencia

Family

Euphorbiaceae

Genus

Euphorbia

Order

Malpighiales

Class

Magnoliopsida

Native range

Native to the Americas, ranging from the southern United States through South America.

Conservation

It is a common, widespread species and is not currently of conservation concern.

It survives by forming dense, low mats that shade out competitors and conserve soil moisture.

Value to wildlife

nectar source

Pollinators

bees, beetles

Uses

ground cover, rock garden filler, xeriscaping

Taxonomía cotejada con GBIF.

Lo que más preguntan

Is it a weed?

Many gardeners consider it a weed because it spreads quickly in lawns and gravel paths.

Does it need much water?

No, it is highly drought tolerant once established.

De dónde viene el nombre

The name Euphorbia honors Euphorbus, a Greek physician, while serpens refers to its creeping, snake like stems.

Bueno saberlo

• It is often called matted sandmat because of its low, creeping growth habit.
• The tiny flowers are actually specialized structures called cyathia.
• It can thrive in sidewalk cracks and other inhospitable urban spaces.