Caper spurge is an annual or biennial herb that flowers from May to June. It can be found in the landscape as a cultivated herbaceous perennial, or weedy in disturbed areas, or escaping in waste places and around buildings. It is a subshrub and measures 5 inches to up 4 feet tall. The common names, mole plant and gopher spurge, are based on the belief that this plant repels these animals; however, this may be more folklore than fact. Caper spurge is toxic, and it was once used as a violent purgative. It is native to Central Asia to Pakistan and is a member of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae). The caper spurge is easy to grow. It prefers full sun, well-drained soils, drought tolerant, and will grow almost anywhere. It is rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits. It may be propagated by stem cuttings or seeds. The plant is self-seeding and can be difficult to remove once established. The stems are erect, smooth, and glaucous. Leaves are opposite, linear, and smooth. On the upper stem the leaves become narrowly triangular. The flowers are small green to greenish-yellow with pale green leaf-like bracts. The fruit is a 3-lobed capsule that holds the tiny seeds. The caper spurge should be managed carefully when grown in the landscape. It is fast-growing and reproduces easily; therefore, it has the potential to become invasive and could displace our native plants. Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: Monitor for aphids and spider mites. Root root and powdery mildew can occur. Wear gloves when working with this plant to avoid the toxic milky sap. Keep this plant out of the reach of small children and pets. VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti," a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Euphorbia .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Maintenance
Low
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Ascending; Erect
Leaf color
Green
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Opposite
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Waxy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are arranged in decussate opposite pairs at the top of the plant, and are lanceolate, 2 to 6 inches long and 1 inch broad, glaucous blue-green with a waxy texture and pale greenish-white midrib and veins. The margins are entire and the surface is smooth.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The flowers are green to yellow-green, 0.2 of an inch in diameter, with no petals, but have pale green bracts. Flowers are either male or female, but both are found on the same plant. They are pollinated by bees.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Gray/Silver; Green
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Flowers give rise to capsules that are coarsely wrinkled and have 3 lobes. The capsules measure up to 1/2 inch in diameter. The seeds are green then ripening to brown or grey and produced in globular clusters of three seeds compressed together. The seeds are 4 to 6 mm in diameter.
Stem color
Blue; Green
Stem detail
The stems are blue-green, erect, fleshy and can exude a milky latex.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Central Asia to Pakistan and China to North Vietnam
Distribution
Introduced: Albania, Argentina, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, British Columbia, Bulgaria, Chile, East Himalaya, Ethiopia, France, German, Great Britain, Ireland, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Ontario, Portugal, Quebec, Romania, Spain, Tasmania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Himalaya, and the United States--AZ, CA, Ct, ID, IL, MD, MA, MT, NM, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA, and WV.
Wildlife value
Pollinated by bees and wasps.
Attracts
Bees
Play value
Easy to Grow
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Edibility
Poisonous
Uses (ethnobotany)
It has been used as a folk remedy in Europe to remove warts and treat skin cancers.
Landscape Use
Garden tags
#poisonous #biennial #seed pods #deer resistant #rabbit resistant #annual weed #problem for children #problem for dogs #problem for horses #problem for cats #partial shade tolerant #weedy #full sun #poisonous if ingested #erect #contact dermatitis
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Contact Dermatitis; Poisonous to Humans; Problem for Cats; Problem for Children; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses; Weedy
The milky white latex sap found in all plant parts can cause mild to severe contact dermatitis. If contact with the eyes occurs the sap can cause temporary to permanent damage to the cornea. If eaten, blistering can occur on lips and oral mucosa. Avoid ingesting plant parts and keep plants away from pets and children.