Upright Spurge: A European Visitor in Your Garden
Have you ever noticed a small, unassuming plant with tiny yellowish flowers popping up in disturbed areas of your garden? You might be looking at upright spurge (Euphorbia stricta), a European annual that has quietly made itself at home in parts of North America. While this little spurge isn’t going to win any beauty contests, it’s worth getting to know—especially if you’re curious about the volunteers that show up uninvited in your landscape.
What Is Upright Spurge?
Upright spurge is a small annual forb, which is just a fancy way of saying it’s a non-woody herbaceous plant that completes its entire life cycle in one growing season. Originally from Europe, this member of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) has established itself in Washington state and potentially other areas where it reproduces on its own without human intervention.
Like other spurges, upright spurge contains a milky sap that can be irritating to skin and eyes, so it’s best to wear gloves when handling it. The plant grows as a compact annual, typically reaching modest heights and producing small, inconspicuous flowers that are more functional than beautiful.
Where You’ll Find It
Currently documented in Washington state, upright spurge tends to appear in disturbed soils and areas where other vegetation has been disrupted. It’s not particularly picky about growing conditions and can tolerate poor soils and dry conditions that might challenge other plants.
Should You Plant Upright Spurge?
Here’s the honest truth: upright spurge isn’t typically something gardeners seek out for their landscapes. While it’s not classified as invasive, it’s also not particularly ornamental or beneficial to local wildlife. If you’re looking to add spurges to your garden, you’ll likely find much better options among native species.
However, if upright spurge has already established itself in your garden, it’s not necessarily cause for alarm. This modest annual tends to stick to disturbed areas and isn’t aggressive about taking over established plantings.
Growing Conditions
Should you encounter upright spurge (or choose to tolerate it), here’s what it prefers:
- Full sun exposure
- Well-draining soils (it’s quite drought tolerant)
- Disturbed or poor-quality soil conditions
- Areas with minimal competition from other plants
Better Native Alternatives
If you’re drawn to spurges for your garden, consider exploring native options instead. Many regions have indigenous spurge species that offer similar characteristics while providing better support for local ecosystems. Native spurges often have evolved alongside local wildlife and can offer food sources for native insects and birds that non-native species simply can’t match.
Check with your local native plant society or extension office to discover which spurge species are native to your specific area—you might be surprised by the beautiful and beneficial options available.
The Bottom Line
Upright spurge is one of those plants that falls into the not harmful, but not particularly helpful category. It’s a reminder that nature doesn’t always ask permission before making itself at home in our gardens. While there’s no urgent need to wage war against this modest European visitor, there are certainly more exciting and beneficial plants deserving of your time, energy, and garden space.
If you’re passionate about supporting local ecosystems through your plant choices, native alternatives will always be the more rewarding path. But if upright spurge has already made itself comfortable in a corner of your yard, you can coexist peacefully while focusing your gardening enthusiasm on plants that truly deserve a starring role in your landscape.
