Euphorbia Species, Gopher Spurge, Caper Spurge, Mole Plant, Myrtle Spurge
Euphorbia lathyris
Family: | Euphorbiaceae (yoo-for-bee-AY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Euphorbia (yoo-FOR-bee-uh) (Info) |
Species: | lathyris (lay-THY-ris) (Info) |
Synonym: | Epurga lathyris |
Synonym: | Euphorbia decussata |
Synonym: | Euphorbia spongiosa |
Synonym: | Euphorbion lathyrum |
Synonym: | Tithymalus lathyris |
Category:
Annuals
Biennials
Water Requirements:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Foliage:
Herbaceous
Smooth
Foliage Color:
Blue-Green
Height:
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
36-48 in. (90-120 cm)
Spacing:
6-9 in. (15-22 cm)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
Where to Grow:
Grow outdoors year-round in hardiness zone
Danger:
Seed is poisonous if ingested
All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Handling plant may cause skin irritation or allergic reaction
Bloom Color:
Green
Bloom Characteristics:
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
Blooms repeatedly
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
From seed; direct sow after last frost
Self-sows freely; deadhead if you do not want volunteer seedlings next season
Seed Collecting:
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Goodyear, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Arroyo Grande, California
Clayton, California
El Cajon, California
Fairfield, California
Granite Hills, California
Harbison Canyon, California
Pinole, California
Rancho San Diego, California
Redding, California
San Rafael, California
Thousand Oaks, California
Weston, Colorado
Wethersfield, Connecticut
Post Falls, Idaho
Ewing, Kentucky
Cumberland, Maryland
Mason, Michigan
Royal Oak, Michigan
Las Vegas, Nevada
Mount Laurel, New Jersey
Neptune, New Jersey
Princeton Junction, New Jersey
Hilton, New York
Millbrook, New York
Pawling, New York
Charlotte, North Carolina
Cincinnati, Ohio
Fairfield, Ohio
Yukon, Oklahoma
Ashland, Oregon
Cloverdale, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Gold Hill, Oregon
Portland, Oregon(3 reports)
Salem, Oregon
South Beach, Oregon
Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania
Exeter, Rhode Island
Conway, South Carolina
Toone, Tennessee
Virgin, Utah
Lexington, Virginia
Bellingham, Washington
Clarkston, Washington
Clarkston Heights-Vineland, Washington
Cusick, Washington
Kalama, Washington
Monroe, Washington
Stevenson, Washington
Tenino, Washington
Waterville, Washington
West Clarkston-Highland, Washington
Woods Creek, Washington
Bunker Hill, West Virginia
Great Cacapon, West Virginia
Liberty, West Virginia
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
---|---|
Positive | On Nov 14, 2016, Domehomedee from Arroyo Grande, CA (Zone 9a) wrote: I guess I'm fortunate that I don't seem to be allergic to this plant. I have had them in my garden for a decade and never had any trouble with them. I will be more careful with them now that I have read the terrible experiences people have had. They grow along the tree line in my garden in full shade. They volunteer there every year. I like the true green color of the blooms and the height is nice for an area most plants will not grow in due to the shade. I've never grown them in full sun. |
Positive | 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. |
Neutral | On Dec 14, 2015, DouginPDX from Portland, OR wrote: I noticed this plant voluntarily growing in my yard in Portland Oregon this summer, it seems to grow quite well , this is it's first year here, a friend of mine identified it as a plant also growing in his yard that also volunteered , and was known as a plant that detracts moles,and gophers, , have not seen a bloom, but it got here some how. |
Negative | 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. |
Positive | On Jul 24, 2013, baseball02 from San Diego, CA wrote: Over the last couple of years my gopher plants start off real good! Grow really full and healthy but after about 5 months they seem to die!! Help!!! |
Positive | 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! |
Negative | On May 11, 2012, AzLiz from Tucson, AZ wrote: While this is a spectacular blooming plant with large, chartreuse flowers in early spring, BEWARE OF THE SAP!! I had a allergic reaction after trimming off the spent blooms that has still not cleared up after 72 hours. I experienced itching hives, extremely flushed face, swollen eyelids, lips and cheeks. Got a cortisone shot from the doctor and cortisone cream to apply twice daily and now have peeling skin on my face where the flushing and swelling had been. I have been told that since the milky, white sap is an ester, in order to neutralize the toxicity you must use rubbing alcohol...soap and water won't clean it off. Obviously, you won't use rubbing alcohol if it gets in your eyes; repeated flushing with water is the best course of action in that case. I love the LOOK of this plant h... read more |
Negative | On May 4, 2010, kittymom_1 from Post Falls, ID wrote: pull that plant out! |
Neutral | On Oct 27, 2009, cglover72 from Goodyear, AZ wrote: I'm in GoodYear, Az. We do have gopher problems and this plant has not helped. It's probably because they haven't eaten it. It's a nice looking plant. I've lived in my house for 1 1/2 years and didn't have anything to do with this plant until yesterday. I was cutting it back and noticed all this milky substance. I didn't think to much about it as it came in contact with the skin on my arm. Later that night my arm started itching. When I started scratching it it felt very sore in spots. It continued it itch. I still didn't get it. I thought something bit me like a flea but I couldn't figure out where I would of gotten fleas from. The next morning still felt the same but it didn't welt up like a flea bite would but it was red in spots on my arm and on the back of my fingers. Then it h... read more |
Negative | On Oct 12, 2008, ElizShay from Tenino, WA wrote: I, too, had an experience with this poisonous plant. |
Negative | On Jun 26, 2008, hdmonster from Portland, OR wrote: Be very careful! The note about the sap being toxic is not an understatement. The story of my experience with this plant is below. |
Positive | 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. |
Positive | On Jan 16, 2005, mgarr from Hanover Twp., PA (Zone 6a) wrote: I grow this plant just because it stays green, zone 5, in our winters. It is just one more thing to look at that is not gray or brown. |
Positive | 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? |
Positive | On Dec 2, 2003, danstanley wrote: I first noticed gopher spurge growing on a road embankment near my house. The red stem and the white-veined leaves looked attractive so I have potted a specimen. I live in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. |
Neutral | 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. |
Positive | On Nov 14, 2003, RobertBurns wrote: My first experience with the "gopher plant" was after it had been planted in my mother's small backyard garden around the borders. The gopher problem quickly disappeared, and I believe the number of plants used was only 4, one on each side of the rectangular yard. |
Positive | 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. |