WSU Clark County Extension
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Cypress Spurge

Scientific name: Euphorbia cyparissias
Taxonomy
Family:Euphorbiaceae
Type:Groundcovers Herbaceus
Native:NO
Plant Requirements
Zone:4 to 8
Sun:Full sun
Moisture:Dry
Plant Characteristics
Height:1 ft
Width:4 ft
Bloom:Showy flowers
Bloom Time:April to June
Bloom Color:Yellow
Additional Characteristics
Trees


Fruit

Leaves


Bark
Wildlife value

Poisonous
Description Cypress Spurge is best used in the garden as groundcover as it will quickly fill in any area and provide a blanket of yellow-green flowers.

  Morphology:
Cypress Spurge is an erect herbaceous groundcover that grows 6”-12” in height. The plant has numerous bright green linear leaves that are located alternately along the stem and in whorls where they subtend the inflorescence. The leaves are 1” long and only 1/10” wide.

Bright yellow-green flowers turning to purple-red as they mature appear April through June. The flower structures are clustered at the top of the plant.

Cypress Spurge is potentially toxic to horses and cattle. For humans, all parts of Cypress Spurge contain toxic latex that irritates the eyes, mouth, and gastrointestinal tract and causes dermatitis upon contact in some people.

  Adaptation:
While it is not considered as invasive in the state of Washington, in other states Cypress Spurge has escaped cultivation and presently occurs in a wide range of sunny or partly shaded environments.

Cypress Spurge produces an extensive underground root system, allowing this plant to reproduce with lateral root buds. On the east coast of the United States it has been found to invade open disturbed areas such as fields, pastures, agricultural land, roadsides and yards.

  Pests:
None reported.
For assistance, contact Dr. Charles Brun (brunc@wsu.edu), (360) 397-6060 5701
Computing and Web Resources, PO Box 6234, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164-6234