{"id":250,"date":"2026-02-11T23:01:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T23:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/gilpin\/?post_type=resource-cpt&#038;p=250"},"modified":"2026-02-27T23:51:34","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T23:51:34","slug":"leafy-spurge","status":"publish","type":"resource-cpt","link":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/gilpin\/resource\/leafy-spurge\/","title":{"rendered":"Leafy Spurge"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group wp-block-pattern-longform-content is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group wp-block-pattern-quick-facts has-gray-50-background-color has-background is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Noxious Weed Facts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Leafy spurge is a creeping perennial that reproduces by seed and root buds, so it can re-sprout even after you think it\u2019s gone.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Can cut cattle carrying capacity by ~50\u201375% on rangeland\/pastures.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Its deep, nutrient-packed root system makes it tough to kill; best results come from a 4\u20135 year integrated management plan, then ongoing monitoring\/maintenance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p>Leafy spurge is a creeping perennial that reproduces from seed and vegetative root buds. The erect plant grows 1-3&#8242; tall. Leaves are bluish-green with smooth margins, 0.25-0.5&#8243; wide and 1-4&#8243; long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Umbel flowers surrounded by heart-shaped, showy, yellow-green bracts. Flowers occur in many clusters toward top of plant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Seeds are round to oblong, about 1\/2&#8243; long, gray or mottled brown with dark line on one side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This difficult to control plant can reduce cattle carrying capacity of rangeland or pastures by 50-75%. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The extensive root system of leafy spurge has vast nutrient stores that let it recover from control attempts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"526\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/gilpin\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/34\/2026\/02\/Leafy-Spurge-Plant.png\" alt=\"Leafy Spurge, William M. Ciesla, Forest Health Management International\" class=\"wp-image-568\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/gilpin\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/34\/2026\/02\/Leafy-Spurge-Plant.png 360w, https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/gilpin\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/34\/2026\/02\/Leafy-Spurge-Plant.png?resize=205,300 205w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 360px) 100vw, 360px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo credit: William Ciesla, Forest Health Management International<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<p>A management scheme combining control methods over 4-5 years is recommended. Even after that time, monitor infestations for recurrence and adopt a maintenance program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Contact CSU Extension Gilpin County for specific herbicide recommendations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Important notes:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Leafy spurge greatly reduces grazing capacity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The plant has an extensive and persistent root system<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Be aware of its irritating milky sap (wear gloves)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-simple\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Additional Information<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-quicklink\"><a tabindex=\"0\" class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"http:\/\/USDA Plant Guide\"><strong>Leafy Spurge &#8211; USDA Plant Guide<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Noxious Weed Facts Leafy spurge is a creeping perennial that reproduces from seed and vegetative root buds. The erect plant grows 1-3&#8242; tall. Leaves are bluish-green with&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"area_tax":[],"county_tax":[127],"global-category_tax":[165,179],"global-offering_tax":[],"global-sub-category_tax":[287,325,360],"global-topic_tax":[375],"region_tax":[385],"resource-type_tax":[388],"class_list":["post-250","resource-cpt","type-resource-cpt","status-publish","hentry"],"pp_statuses_selecting_workflow":false,"pp_workflow_action":"current","pp_status_selection":"publish","pp_post_mime_type":"","acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/gilpin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource-cpt\/250","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/gilpin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource-cpt"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/gilpin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/resource-cpt"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/gilpin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/45"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/gilpin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource-cpt\/250\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":652,"href":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/gilpin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource-cpt\/250\/revisions\/652"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/gilpin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=250"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"area_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/gilpin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/area_tax?post=250"},{"taxonomy":"county_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/gilpin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/county_tax?post=250"},{"taxonomy":"global-category_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/gilpin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/global-category_tax?post=250"},{"taxonomy":"global-offering_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/gilpin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/global-offering_tax?post=250"},{"taxonomy":"global-sub-category_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/gilpin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/global-sub-category_tax?post=250"},{"taxonomy":"global-topic_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/gilpin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/global-topic_tax?post=250"},{"taxonomy":"region_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/gilpin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/region_tax?post=250"},{"taxonomy":"resource-type_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/gilpin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource-type_tax?post=250"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}