Spurge: What it is and how to prevent an invasion

SALT LAKE CITY — It’s the peak time for spurge invasions. This weed often creeps up during the hottest times of the year, and unfortunately for Utahns, it also thrives in slightly drier conditions.

What is spurge?

According to KSL Greenhouse Host Taun Beddes, spurge is part of the euphorbia family, which explains its waxy leaves. It is also related to poinsettias.

“If you snap a little vine or branch off of it, you’ll actually see a little white milky substance come out,” Beddes said.

It starts to germinate in the spring, when the soil temperatures hit around 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. While it remains small, developing only three or four leaves, it does send a long root down 12 to 18 inches deep. Because of that deep root and waxy leaves, it starts to spread once the outside tempera