PlantFiles: Sun Spurge, Mad Woman's Milk, Wart Weed
Euphorbia helioscopia

Sun spurge has started growing as a weed in neighborhoods all around the south San Francisco bay area. It seems to spread aggressively and grow rapidly. It grows in cracks, lawn, and bare soil, in full shade to full sun. It requires constant attention to keep this weed from growing where it isn't wanted.

While I rate it as neutral I do have mixed feelings about this plant. It is perennial where I live, zone 5 Indiana. It is very agressive and has very strong roots but on the other hand, it makes an impressive display. I didn't start out with the intention of having so much of it because when purchased, it was labeled as ice plant. I started out with 6 plants two years ago and now have a very large drift of these.

A winter annual that grows prostrate along the ground with tips and upper stem portions ascending (decumbent growth habit). All parts of the plant emit a milky sap when cut.