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Summary
Physical Characteristics
Euphorbia hirta is a ANNUAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in).
It is frost tender. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Chamaesyce gemella. Chamaesyce karwinskyi. Desmonema hirta. Ditritea hirta. Euphorbia chrysochaeta
Habitats
Cultivated Beds;
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Leaves Shoots
Edible Uses:
Tender young leaves and shoots - cooked as a vegetable[272]. A famine food, used when all else fails[177, 179] and I would have to be very desperate to eat it even then[K].
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Anodyne Antiasthmatic Antipruritic Carminative Depurative Diuretic Dysentery Febrifuge
Galactogogue Purgative VD Vermifuge Warts
Asthma weed has traditionally been used in Asia to treat bronchitic asthma and laryngeal spasm, though in modern herbalism it is more used in the treatment of intestinal amoebic dysentery[268]. It should not be used without expert guidance, however, since large doses cause gastro-intestinal irritation, nausea and vomiting[268]. The plant is anodyne, antipruritic, carminative, depurative, diuretic, febrifuge, galactogogue, purgative and vermifuge[218].The aerial parts of the plant are harvested when in flower during the summer and can be dried for later use[238]. The stem, taken internally, is famed as a treatment for asthma, bronchitis and various other lung complaints[218, 238, 240]. The herb relaxes the bronchioles but apparently depresses the heart and general respiration[218]. It is usually used in combination with other anti-asthma herbs such as Grindelia camporum and Lobelia inflata[254]. It is also used to treat intestinal amoebic dysentery[254]. The whole plant is decocted and used in the treatment of athlete's foot, dysentery, enteritis and skin conditions[218]. It has been used in the treatment of syphilis[4]. The sap is applied to warts in order to destroy them[238, 240]. The treatment needs to be repeated 2 - 3 times a day over a period of several weeks to be fully effective[K].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Prefers a light well-drained moderately rich loam in an open sunny position[200]. The plant is not very tolerant of frost[238], though it can probably be grown successfully in this country as a spring-sown annual[K]. Hybridizes with other members of this genus[200]. The ripe seed is released explosively from the seed capsules[200]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[233]. This genus has been singled out as a potential source of latex (for making rubber) for the temperate zone, although no individual species has been singled out[141].
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
The PFAF Bookshop
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Propagation
Seed - sow mid to late spring in situ. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 3 weeks at 20°c. It might be best to sow the seed in a cool greenhouse in early March. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant out the seedlings in late May. This will give the plants longer to grow and mature.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Native Plant Search
Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search
Found In
Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :
| Related Plants
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| Latin Name | Common Name | Habit | Height | Hardiness | Growth | Soil | Shade | Moisture | Edible | Medicinal | Other |
| Acalypha australis | Asian copperleaf | Annual | 0.5 |
0-0
| | LMH | SN | M | 0 | 1 | |
| Alchornea castaneifolia | Iporuru | Tree | 8.0 |
10-12
| F | LMH | SN | MWe | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Alchornea cordifolia | Christmas Bush | Shrub | 8.0 |
10-12
| M | LMH | N | DMWe | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Aleurites cordata | Japan Wood-Oil Tree | Tree | 7.0 |
9-11
| | LM | SN | M | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Aleurites fordii | Tung Tree, Tung Oil Tree, Wood Oil Tree China | Tree | 7.0 |
8-10
| F | LM | SN | M | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Aleurites moluccanus | Candle Nut, Country Walnut | Tree | 20.0 |
10-12
| F | LMH | N | DM | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Caryodendron orinocense | Taccy Nut, Nuez de Barinas | Tree | 25.0 |
10-12
| F | LMH | N | M | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Chrozophora tinctoria | Dyer's Croton, Giradol | Perennial | 0.0 |
0-0
| | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Cnidoscolus aconitifolius | Tree Spinach, Tread Softly, Cabbage Star, Chaya | Shrub | 5.0 |
9-11
| F | LMH | SN | M | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Cnidoscolus elasticus | Highland chilte | Shrub | 1.0 |
9-11
| F | LMH | N | DM | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Croton lechleri | Sangre De Grado, Dragon's blood | Tree | 12.0 |
10-12
| F | LMH | N | M | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Croton megalocarpus | Croton tree | Tree | 25.0 |
10-12
| F | LM | N | M | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Croton palanostigma | Sangre De Grado, Dragon's blood | Tree | 12.0 |
10-12
| F | LM | N | M | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Croton salutaris | Sangre De Grado, Dragon's blood | Tree | 12.0 |
10-12
| F | LM | N | M | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Croton tiglium | Croton Oil Plant. Croton, Purging croton. | Tree | 7.0 |
10-12
| M | LMH | N | DM | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Euphorbia abyssinica | Candelabra Spurge | Tree | 7.5 |
10-12
| M | LM | SN | D | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Euphorbia antisyphilitica | Candelilla | Shrub | 1.0 |
7-10
| | LM | N | DM | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Euphorbia corollata | Wild Spurge, Flowering spurge | Perennial | 1.0 |
4-8
| | LM | SN | DM | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Euphorbia drummondii | Caustic Weed | Annual | 0.2 |
-
| | LM | N | DM | 0 | 1 | |
| Euphorbia esula | Leafy Spurge. Green spurge | Perennial | 1.0 |
3-9
| F | LMH | SN | DM | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Euphorbia helioscopia | Madwoman's Milk | Annual | 0.4 |
-
| | LM | N | DM | 1 | 2 | |
| Euphorbia humifusa | | Annual | 0.2 |
-
| | LM | N | DM | 1 | 2 | |
| Euphorbia intisy | Intisy, Pencil Plant | Shrub | 5.0 |
10-12
| F | LM | SN | D | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Euphorbia ipecacuanhae | American Ipec | | 0.0 |
-
| | LMH | SN | M | 0 | 1 | |
| Euphorbia lactea | Mottled Spurge | Shrub | 5.0 |
10-11
| M | LMH | SN | DM | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Euphorbia lathyris | Caper Spurge, Moleplant | Annual/Biennial | 1.0 |
5-9
| | LMH | SN | DM | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Euphorbia marginata | Mountain Snow, Ghost Spurge, Ghost Weed | Annual | 0.6 |
4-8
| F | LM | N | DM | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Euphorbia neriifolia | Fleshy spurge, Hedge Euphorbia, Oleander spurge | Shrub | 4.0 |
10-12
| F | LM | SN | D | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Euphorbia pekinensis | Da Ji | Perennial | 0.6 |
-
| | LM | N | DM | 0 | 3 | |
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Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
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Botanical References
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Links / References
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