Translate this page:
Summary
Physical Characteristics
Euphorbia esula is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 0.4 m (1ft 4in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Esula angustifolia Haw. Euphorbia gmelinii Steudel. Euphorbia intercedens Podp. ex Harrington. Euphorbia poderae Croizat. Euphorbia pseudovirgata (Schur) Soó. Euphorbia x pseudovirgata (Schur) Soó. Euphorbia zhigulienis Prokh. Galarhoeus esula (L.) Rydb. Tithymalus esula (L.) Hill.
Habitats
Edible Uses
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.
None Known
References More on Medicinal Uses
Now available: PLANTS FOR YOUR FOOD FOREST: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.
An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.
Read More
Other Uses
Euphorbia esula has nutrient value similar to alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.) and provides nutritious forage for sheep and goats. Potential as a whole-plant biomass as a locally grown fuel crop for home-heating purposes (Maxwell et al., 1985). A high protein feed stock for grazing sheep and goats (Fox et al., 1991; Sedivec et al., 1995). The high protein diet result in very high quality mohair in angora goats (Stoneberg, 1989). High in hydrocarbon latex - possibly a good col-hardy hydrocarbon species. Leafy spurge hay burns with 4x the energy of wheat straw [1-1]. Dynamic accumulator.
Special Uses
Carbon Farming Dynamic accumulator
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Experimental Crop Management: Hay
Climate: boreal to subtropical. Humidity: arid to humid. Prefers areas of full sunlight and dry soil but can tolerate a variety of habitats including temperatures as low as -45C (-49F). A deep-rooted perennial plant. Roots grow twice as fast in sandy soil as in clay soil. Roots in clay soil have greater branching than those in sandy soil. High levels of soil nitrogen can reduce the biomass of leafy spurge roots and lead to greater root concentrations near the top of the soil profile (U.S. Forest Service). Especially aggressive in semi-arid situations. Adapted to a wide range of conditions, from moist to dry with annual rainfalls as low as 180mm (7"). It grows as clusters with upright stems, 0.3 to 1m tall. Cultivation: experimental. Management: hay (Describes the non-destructive management systems that are used in cultivation) [1-1].
Carbon Farming
-
Experimental Crop
Plant breeders are testing these plants to see if they could be domesticated for cultivation, but they are still in an experimental phase. Examples include milkweed and leafy spurge.
-
Management: Hay
Cut to the ground and harvested annually. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.
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
Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.
Shop Now
Propagation
It can grow from seed or from creeping roots. Reproduces readily like by seeds that have a high germination rate and may remain viable in the soil for at least eight years.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Hungarian spurge; wolf's milk, Euphorbe esule, Esels- Wolfsmilch; Scharfe Wolfsmilch, Heksenmelk, Vargtoerel, Faitours-grass, Green spurge, Leafy spurge
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
Currently found worldwide with the exception of Australia and New Zealand.
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.
A highly competitive plant. Once established, it tends to displace native grasses, forbs and most other vegetation in pastures, rangelands and natural areas. Invades natural areas and suppresses other vegetation. Its roots reach down 12 feet or more, and once established it is very difficult to control. It spreads both underground and by seed. Its cultivation is prohibited in ten US states and is declared a noxious weed in twelve others. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has placed this species on its list of 100 of the world's worst invasive species.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed
| Related Plants
|
| 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 helioscopia | Madwoman's Milk | Annual | 0.4 |
-
| | LM | N | DM | 1 | 2 | |
| Euphorbia hirta | Asthma Weed, Pill-Bearing Spurge | Annual | 0.3 |
-
| | LM | N | DM | 1 | 3 | |
| 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 | |
|
|
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.
Expert comment
Author
L
Botanical References
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
Readers comment
| Add a comment |
|
If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.
* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.
To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.
|
Subject : Euphorbia esula
|
|
|
|