Euphorbia Species, Gopher Spurge, Caper Spurge, Mole Plant, Myrtle Spurge

On May 16, 2016, MaggieMLGarden from Pawling, NY wrote:

In Pawling NY, this plant works like magic to deter voles. Yes, the sap is toxic, and it self sows abundantly, and it looks ragged in its second year. But it is worth all these inconveniences because it is the only thing I have found that keeps the voles from devouring the garden -- (eg 16 mature rose bushes in one season.) In spring, after the old plants have flowered, I pull them up and thin the volunteers from the previous year's seeds. One plant every 25 feet or so is enough to prevent vole damage.

On Aug 3, 2015, GypsyFarmGirl from Seattle, WA wrote:

We thought this was an interesting wild addition to our permaculture-style garden, until I got one small drop of its white milky liquid on my wrist accidentally. The result? A three inch wide painful welt with tiny blood blisters, felt very much like a chemical burn. I followed the instructions here, washed it with rubbing alcohol and coated with cortisone cream. A day later it remains painful and swollen, but the cortisone does seem to be winning the battle.

The creepy part? I have a photo of my two year old grandson investigating that plant earlier that same day before I figured out what it was and decided to remove it from our landscape. Fortunately, he did not encounter any of the caustic liquid.

Some folks with larger properties where human contact with t... read morehe plant might be minimal might be perfectly happy having it present...we chose to remove it and if any new plants have already voluntary seeded themselves, we will remove them as they appear.

On May 27, 2012, violavinca from Las Vegas, NV wrote:

Should have done my due diligence on the plant before adding as a key feature to my yard due to the allergic reaction to the sap. That said, it is a great plant, grows well in the Las Vegas climate, is green all year and blooms when other plants often don't. However, next time I tend the plant it will be treated with the respect both of us deserve!

Tips/alerts:
1. Bees LOVE the blooms. If you are allergic, this is not the plant for you.

2. As others have stated in this string, the sap does not wash off, residue is left. I was most careful - or so I thought - having worn gloves, but shortly after cleaning up I must have brushed my face with my arm where the sap had come in contact. Within less than an hour my eyes felt like they were on fire and my... read more face swelled from lower eyelids to mouth. Tip of tongue lost sensitivity. The pain is intense. After visit to emergency doc, steroid shot & antibiotic eye drops later, all began to improve. As noted by others, it takes several days for full recovery.

On May 4, 2010, kittymom_1 from Post Falls, ID wrote:

pull that plant out!
nasty, considered a noxious weed here in the Pac NW, takes over everything, and yes the sap is dangerous. Chokes everything else out.
Did you know I found on the web (U of Tenn) that the seeds get "thrown" 50 feet, and the roots can grow about 2 ft.a day.

BAD BAD

On Oct 12, 2008, ElizShay from Tenino, WA wrote:

I, too, had an experience with this poisonous plant.

After a gopher or mole decided our barked walk-way was prime territory, I would cut a stalk of this plant and push it into the soft mound of dirt where the critter had excavated. It didn't seem to come back to these spots. However, it showed up a few feet away, or a few yards away.

My thought was that if I would sprinkle the leaves and bits of stem over the bark that it may discourage the activity in this area. So, I stripped the leaves by hand and distributed a few cups worth over the walk way.

Now, I'm a mother and grandmother. I say, "wash your hands" about ten times a day and have made a habit of frequently doing so myself. However, I underestimated the potency and sticky-ness (... read moreno such word, I'm sure!) of the residue on my hands. A few hours later, after at least three hand-washings, I raised my glasses and rubbed my eyes. Wrong-o, Buck-o. Within one minute my eyes watered and my sinuses went crazy. Within two minutes, my eyes started to burn. Within ten minutes, my eyes were bloodshot and swollen. I had rinsed my eyes with tap water within the first two minutes but to no avail.

I called the poison hotline (800-222-1222, if memory serves me -- dial 1-800-555-1212 and ask directory assistance to be sure of the number) and asked if there could be any serious damage. Their response was that the plant was definitely toxic and that if, after a couple of good rinses, the symptoms continued for an hour to go to the emergency room. Apparently, no one has ever reported blindness or permanent damage. (Doesn't mean it isn't possible!)

Yep. Two hours later I was in the ER, 35 miles from our woodsy rural home. I was given a steroid, oral, and told to get a lubricating eye drop -- not one of those "gets the red out" types, rather one that emulated natural tears or soothes. I opted for one with a small amount of mineral oil.

So, my fellow gardeners, remember to wash your hands well if you don't use gloves. Actually, wash them well even if you wear gloves (after you put gloves away and won't touch them again until you put them on to work the next time.)

As for the mole or gopher, if he pops up where I spread the leaves, pods, and stems, I'll go shopping for a shot gun! (nah... I'd end up shooting myself in the foot!)

Best regards,

Liz

On Oct 12, 2005, josherman from Cusick, WA wrote:

This plant (gopher spurge) has been growing in my vegetable garden for years (15-20). Grows like a weed, self propagating, rototill in the fall and they just keep coming back. This year is first in memory when I had plants with obvious seedheads, half are brown and dry the rest are green and leak white latex (poisonous I assume), I quit picking the green ones. Oh yeah, haven't had any gophers/moles since second or third year of planting orignal specimens.

On Mar 14, 2004, sherburne wrote:

After living with this plant in my yard for six years in Portland, OR, I can honestly say that I never had trouble with moles. To be fair, though, it is important to note that it came with the house; I didn't plant it in response to a mole problem. Perhaps a previous owner did?

The plant required very little care, and spread quickly throughout the yard (along with the arum italicum and deadly nightshade). No maintenance required.

On Nov 14, 2003, palmbob from Acton, CA (Zone 8b) wrote:

I have grown this plant for about 6 years now and its effecttiveness in keeping gophers away has been pretty poor. Though I haven't actually seen gophers eat this plant, they have eaten bananas only 6" away from several large specimens. This plant is a self seeder and in my experience only lives for about 2-3 years max, at which time it gets suddenly huge, flowers and the next thing you know it's popping up everywhere. I let it do this in the hopes that maybe then the gophers would take off, but nothing of the sort. Oh well. Not a bad looking plant and pretty easy to pull out of the ground if it's not growing where you want it, but it IS invasive.

Probably all Euphorbias are to some extent gopher retardents in that they have toxic roots. I have had gophers, though, j... read moreust dig around my Euphorbias and happily munch a palm or tropical right nearby. I have found road flares are much more effective in chasing them away than planting Euphorbias (though I won't stop planting Euphorbias).

On Sep 2, 2003, Happenstance from Northern California, CA wrote:

Although this is often marketed as a pocket gopher control, it would only work if the gopher actually CONSUMED in large quantities the roots/leaves/stems/seed pods as he busily burrows through the root ball in search of Hybrid tea roses or other tastier morsels in your garden.