# Hairy Spurge (*Euphorbia illirica*)

Hairy Spurge is a unique plant with fuzzy leaves and bright yellow flowers. It grows in sunny places and can be found in gardens and fields. Its special look makes it stand out among other plants!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Habitat:** Urban areas

![Hairy Spurge](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Euphorbia_villosa_sl4.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Stefan.lefnaer, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Euphorbia_villosa_sl4.jpg)

## Appearance

The Hairy Spurge has oval to oblong leaves with a distinctive grayish-green hue, heavily covered in soft, white hairs, making it look fuzzy. Its reddish stems bear tiny, greenish-yellow, cup-like cyathia that appear in clusters, unlike typical petals.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Malpighiales
- **Family:** Euphorbiaceae
- **Genus:** Euphorbia

## Interesting facts

- Despite its name, the 'flowers' are actually tiny cup-like structures, not true petals!
- Hairy Spurge is a cousin to the colorful Poinsettia, both belong to the Euphorbia family!
- Its milky sap can irritate skin and eyes, acting like a tiny chemical defense!
- Some people plant certain spurges in gardens, thinking they might scare away moles!

## Special abilities

- **Sticky Defense:** Hairy Spurge can produce a milky sap that deters hungry herbivores and helps repair stem wounds.
- **Water Saver:** Hairy Spurge has dense hairs on its leaves that reduce water loss and protect it from intense sun.
- **Seed Slinger:** Hairy Spurge can forcefully eject its seeds, launching them away for wider dispersal.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 10-50 cm
- **Spread:** 15-40 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to late summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Moderate
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen from its tiny flowers.
- **Eats:** [Oleander Aphid](https://www.snappit.app/explore/oleander-aphid) (*Aphis nerii*) — Feeds on the plant's sap, potentially weakening it.
- **Eats:** [Roe Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/roe-deer) (*Capreolus capreolus*) — May browse on its leaves, despite the irritating milky sap.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [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.
- [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Do not touch the sap of the plant, as it can irritate your skin.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Hairy 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 Hairy Spurge?

10-50 cm

### How wide does Hairy Spurge spread?

15-40 cm

### How big are the flowers on Hairy Spurge?

0.2-0.5 cm

### When does Hairy Spurge bloom?

Late spring to late summer

### Is Hairy Spurge edible?

No

### Is Hairy Spurge toxic?

Moderate

### What is Hairy Spurge's lifecycle?

Perennial

## 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*)

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Source: [Hairy Spurge: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hairy-spurge)