History

It is believed that Leafy Spurge arrived in the U.S. as a seed impurity in the early 1800s. The first recorded incident of leafy spurge dates back to Massachusetts in 1827, spreading quickly and reaching North Dakota within about 80 years.

Biology

Leafy spurge seeds can remain viable in the soil for seven years, enhancing its chances over time. The seed capsules open explosively, dispersing seed up to 15 feet from the parent plant. Seeds may be carried further by water and wildlife. Leafy spurge spreads at a rate of several feet per year. The root system is complex, can reach 15 or more feet into the ground, and may have numerous buds.

Ecology

Leafy spurge can grow in moist to dry soil conditions while it is most aggressive under dry conditions where competition from native plants is reduced. It can invade prairies, savannas, pastures, abandoned fields and roadside areas.

Impact

Found in in prairie habitats and fields, leafy spurge will displace native vegetation through shading and by using available water and soil nutrients. Plant toxins can prevent the growth of other plants underneath it. A 1990 study conducted by North Dakota State University estimates a direct annual financial impact in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming to be $40.5 million, with secondary impacts at $89 million and the potential loss of 1,433 jobs annually. Leafy spurge proliferation results in an estimated annual economic loss of $23.2 million in North Dakota alone. Leafy spurge is an aggressive invader that can dominate and overrun large areas of open space.

Control

Leafy spurge is a major weed pest of North Dakota and much of the upper Great Plains. Flea beetles, Apthona nigriscutus, have been successful in reducing leafy spurge stands in locations where they have been established for several years. Redistributions of North Dakota flea beetles numbering in the tens of millions of insects per year are made in that State and in surrounding States and Provinces.

References on the Web:

Agricultural Research Service

Invasivespecies.gov

Alien Plant Working Group

North Dakota State University

NDSU Extension Service