Euphorbia maculata: Spotted Spurge – Prostrate Summer Annual Weed

Euphorbia maculata – Spotted Spurge, Prostrate Spurge

Euphorbia maculata, commonly known as Spotted Spurge or Prostrate Spurge, is a summer annual weed that forms a flat, radiating mat of small, opposite leaves, each often marked with a distinctive maroon blotch in the center. The stems exude a milky sap when broken. Tiny, inconspicuous flowers are produced in the leaf axils throughout the summer. It thrives in compacted, disturbed soils – driveways, sidewalk cracks, garden beds.

While generally considered a nuisance weed, Spotted Spurge is a pioneer species that colonizes bare ground. It is easily controlled by hand-pulling (wear gloves due to irritating sap) or pre-emergent herbicides. Its presence often indicates compacted soil. Several synonyms exist (Chamaesyce maculata, etc.), reflecting taxonomic shifts. Not an ornamental plant, but a common component of the urban flora.

Plant Profile