North America Non-native Plant

Euphorbia Breoni

Botanical name: Euphorbia breoni

USDA symbol: EUBR16

Native status: Not native but doesn't reproduce and persist in the wild

Euphorbia breoni: An Enigmatic Plant with Limited Information If you’ve stumbled across the name Euphorbia breoni in your plant research, you’re likely wondering what exactly this mysterious member of the spurge family is all about. Well, you’re not alone in your curiosity – this particular Euphorbia species remains something of ...

Euphorbia breoni: An Enigmatic Plant with Limited Information

If you’ve stumbled across the name Euphorbia breoni in your plant research, you’re likely wondering what exactly this mysterious member of the spurge family is all about. Well, you’re not alone in your curiosity – this particular Euphorbia species remains something of an enigma in the gardening world.

What We Know (And Don’t Know)

Here’s the straight scoop: reliable information about Euphorbia breoni is surprisingly scarce. While the name suggests it belongs to the vast Euphorbia genus – a diverse group of plants that includes everything from tiny weeds to tree-like succulents – specific details about this particular species are hard to come by in standard botanical references and gardening resources.

This lack of readily available information could mean several things:

  • It might be a very rare or newly described species
  • It could be a regional or local name not widely recognized
  • The name might be outdated or have been reclassified
  • It may have limited distribution or be of primarily scientific interest

The Euphorbia Family Context

What we do know is that if Euphorbia breoni is indeed a true Euphorbia, it would share certain family characteristics. Most Euphorbias produce a milky sap (called latex) that can be irritating to skin and eyes, and many are quite drought-tolerant once established. The family includes both native and non-native species across different regions.

A Word of Caution for Gardeners

Given the uncertainty surrounding this plant’s identity, native status, and growing requirements, we’d recommend proceeding with caution if you encounter Euphorbia breoni for sale or in plant swaps. Without clear information about its:

  • Native range and status
  • Potential invasiveness
  • Growing requirements
  • Garden suitability

It’s difficult to make informed planting decisions.

Better Alternatives for Your Garden

If you’re drawn to the Euphorbia genus, there are many well-documented native and non-invasive species that might scratch that same gardening itch. Consider researching Euphorbia species that are known to be appropriate for your region and growing conditions.

For native plant enthusiasts, we always recommend checking with local native plant societies, extension offices, or botanical gardens to identify Euphorbia species that are truly native to your area and well-suited to local conditions.

The Bottom Line

While Euphorbia breoni remains a botanical mystery for now, this uncertainty actually highlights an important principle in responsible gardening: when in doubt, choose plants with well-documented characteristics and known benefits to local ecosystems. Your garden – and local wildlife – will thank you for it!

If you do happen to have reliable information about Euphorbia breoni, we’d love to hear from fellow gardeners and botanists who might help solve this green mystery.

Euphorbia Breoni

Classification

Group

Dicot

Kingdom

Plantae - Plants

Subkingdom

Tracheobionta - Vascular plants

Superdivision

Spermatophyta - Seed plants

Division

Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants

Subdivision
Class

Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons

Subclass

Rosidae

Order

Euphorbiales

Family

Euphorbiaceae Juss. - Spurge family

Genus

Euphorbia L. - spurge

Species

Euphorbia breoni Nois.

Plant data source: USDA, NRCS 2025. The PLANTS Database. https://plants.usda.gov,. 2/25/2025. National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC USA