# cypress spurge (*Euphorbia cyparissias*) Cypress spurge is a bright green plant with small yellow flowers. It grows in sunny places and can spread quickly, making it a lively part of the garden! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 8 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![cypress spurge](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Euphorbia_cyparissias_in_Avoriaz_%281%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Krzysztof Golik, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Euphorbia_cyparissias_in_Avoriaz_%281%29.jpg) ## Appearance The cypress spurge has upright stems covered in dense, narrow, blue-green leaves resembling cypress needles. Its true flowers are tiny, surrounded by striking chartreuse to bright yellow-green bracts, creating a vibrant display. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Malpighiales - **Family:** Euphorbiaceae - **Genus:** Euphorbia ## Interesting facts - Believe it or not, this plant is a cousin to the festive Christmas poinsettia! - Its milky sap was once used as a folk remedy for removing warts! - The 'cypress' in its name comes from its needle-like leaves, just like a tiny evergreen! - This plant can spread super fast, taking over sunny spots and fields! ## Special abilities - **Sticky Shield:** Cypress spurge has a milky, latex sap that oozes out when broken, protecting it from hungry herbivores. - **Underground Networker:** Cypress spurge can spread rapidly using tough underground stems called rhizomes, helping it colonize new ground. - **Pollinator Beacon:** Cypress spurge has bright yellow-green bracts that attract bees and other insects to its small, inconspicuous flowers. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-40 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Moderate - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** cypress spurge flea beetle (*Aphthona cyparissiae*) — Feeds on the roots and foliage, used for biocontrol. - **Pollinates:** honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Pollinates:** common eastern bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Collects nectar and pollen from its blooms. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Be careful not to touch the milky sap, as it can irritate your skin. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify cypress spurge? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is cypress spurge? 10-40 cm ### When does cypress spurge bloom? Spring to early summer ### Is cypress spurge edible? No ### Is cypress spurge toxic? Moderate ### What is cypress spurge's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is cypress spurge pollinated? Insect ### Where is cypress spurge usually found? Grasslands ## Where to spot - [Hudson Falls Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hudson-falls-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Mormon Row Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mormon-row-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [Pines Bridge Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pines-bridge-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Abram S. Hewitt State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/abram-s-hewitt-state-forest) — New Jersey, US · Forest - [Andy Chambers Ranch Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/andy-chambers-ranch-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [Cripple Creek Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cripple-creek-historic-district) — Colorado, US · Historic District [View all places to see cypress spurge](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/cypress-spurge) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Cypress Spurge: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cypress-spurge)