Leafy spurge (Spurge Family) is a native of Eurasia. It was introduced to North America as a seed impurity. It was first recorded in Massachusetts during 1827 and quickly spread to North Dakota during the early 1900s. This plant is an extremely aggressive, long-lived, rhizomatous perennial. Flowers are yellowish-green and arranged in numerous small clusters, subtended by paired, heart-shaped yellow-green bracts that are often mis­taken for flowers. Leaves are narrow and alternate on the stem. The leaves and stems are smooth and hairless and pale green or blue-green in color. The entire plant contains white, milky latex. Mature plants can reach 2 to 4 feet tall.

Habitat and impacts
Leafy spurge occurs in rangeland, pastures, prairies, roadsides, streams and ditches, and waste areas. It is adapted to many habitat types that range from riparian sites to dry hillsides. This plant can invade rangeland in excellent condition. It is most aggres­sive in dry sites where plant competition is less in­tense. Leafy spurge will thrive on many soil types. It is most abundant on coarse-textured soils and least abundant on clayey soils. Spurge is one of the earli­est plants to emerge in the spring and one of the last plants to enter dormancy in the fall. This early- and late-season growth makes leafy spurge more com­petitive over native plants.

Location in Park County

Leafy spurge can be found in the Rock Creek area north of Livingston, near the county line on the West Boulder River, and about six miles south of Livingston.   

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