# Sea Spurge (*Euphorbia paralias*)

Sea Spurge is a special plant that grows near the beach. It has thick, green leaves and can help protect sand dunes from washing away. It loves sunny places and is very strong against wind and salt!

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

![Sea Spurge](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Euphorbia_paralias_-_Sea_spurge_-_Kum_s%C3%BCtle%C4%9Feni_05.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Zeynel Cebeci, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Euphorbia_paralias_-_Sea_spurge_-_Kum_s%C3%BCtle%C4%9Feni_05.jpg)

## Appearance

The Sea Spurge has a compact, dome-shaped form with dense, blue-green, succulent-like leaves. Its small, yellowish-green 'flowers' are actually modified bracts, making it distinct among coastal plants.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- Its tiny 'flowers' are special cups, called cyathia, holding many even tinier male and female flowers!
- Sea Spurge seeds can float on ocean currents, helping them spread to new beaches far away.
- The milky sap, called latex, was historically used in some cultures to remove warts!
- This tough plant can grow even when partially buried by sand, reaching upwards for sunlight.

## Special abilities

- **Waterproof Armor:** Sea Spurge has thick, waxy leaves that help it retain precious water in dry, salty coastal environments.
- **Chemical Shield:** Sea Spurge produces a milky, toxic sap that helps it defend against hungry animals trying to eat its leaves.
- **Deep Anchor:** Sea Spurge has a strong taproot that helps it stay firmly anchored in shifting sands and reach deep water.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-70 cm
- **Spread:** 30-50 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer-fall
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Moderate
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — visits its tiny cyathia for nectar.
- **Eats:** Sea Spurge Moth (*Scythris fallacella*) — larvae feed on its leaves and stems.
- **Depends on:** European Red Ant (*Myrmica rubra*) — disperses its seeds for a fatty reward.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
- [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.
- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [Salt Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/salt-tolerant): Salt tolerant plants can withstand and grow in conditions with elevated salinity levels in the soil or water.
- [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
- [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.

## Collections

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

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Don't touch the plant's milky sap, as it can be irritating to the skin.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Sea 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 Sea Spurge?

30-70 cm

### How wide does Sea Spurge spread?

30-50 cm

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

0.5-1.5 cm

### When does Sea Spurge bloom?

Summer-fall

### Is Sea Spurge edible?

No

### Is Sea Spurge toxic?

Moderate

### What is Sea Spurge's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Corralejo Natural Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/corralejo-natural-park) — Canarias, ES · Park
- [Jandía Natural Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jandia-natural-park) — Canarias, ES · Park

## 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: [Sea Spurge: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sea-spurge)