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Lawn and Turfgrass Weeds: Spotted Spurge - Chamaesyce Maculata L.

Spotted spurge—sometimes referred to as prostrate spurge or spotted sandmat—is a weed of lawns, parks, institutional grounds, and athletic fields.

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Updated:

June 26, 2023

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Photo: Peter Landschoot, Penn State

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Spotted spurge (Chamaesyce maculata L.; Synonym: Euphorbia maculata L.) is found in poorly maintained, thinning turf, and in newly established turf seeded in late spring or summer. Individual plants tend to lay mostly flat against the soil surface and spread outward from central growing points in roughly radial patterns. Spurge plants are frequently found near ornamental beds or along sidewalks and are most noticeable during summer months.

Figure 1. Spotted spurge plant growing in a recently tilled soil (left) and spurge plants infesting a drought-stressed lawn (right). Photos: Peter Landschoot, Penn State

Taxonomy

Spotted spurge is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family, a very large and diverse group of plant species. The taxonomy of ground spurges is somewhat muddled, and the common and Latin names of spotted spurge and prostrate spurge vary among sources. Some books and websites assign these species to the Chamaesyce genus, whereas others list the genus as Euphorbia. According to Uva et al. (1997), spotted spurge and prostrate spurge are very similar and considered the same species by some botanists.

Life Cycle

Spotted spurge has a summer annual life cycle. Plants emerge from seeds in early to mid-summer, produce taproots from central growing points, and spread laterally in more-or-less radial patterns, but do not root at nodes. This species produces small white and pink flowers, and sticky seeds that attach to fur of animals, soles of shoes, and tires of lawn mowers. Seeds remain dormant over the winter months then germinate and give rise to new plants in summer of the following year.

Identification

Branching stems of spotted spurge are pink or red and covered with fine hairs. Stems grow close to the ground, and generally do not rise more than a few inches above the soil surface. When broken or punctured, stems exude a milky-white, sticky liquid. Leaves are small (about ½ to ¾ inches long and ¼ to ½ inch wide), oblong, dark green, often with a purple blotch in the center. Leaf margins are smooth or slightly serrated, and mostly rounded at tips. Leaves have short petioles and are arranged opposite one another on stems.

Leaves of spotted surge — Figure 2. Leaves of spotted spurge showing opposite arrangement on pink stem. Note the purple blotch in the center of older leaves. Photo: Peter Landschoot, Penn State

Milky-white latex liquid oozing from spurge stems — Figure 3. Milky-white latex liquid oozing from recently severed spurge stems. Photo: Peter Landschoot, Penn State

Tiny pink and white flower clusters are formed in leaf axils on the upper portion of spotted spurge stems during mid to late summer. Clusters are made up of male and female flowers that are enveloped in a cup-like structure called an involucre. Seeds are produced in small capsules and have sticky surfaces that can adhere to shoes and animal fur.

Figure 4. Flower clusters, seed pods, and involucres in leaf axils of spotted spurge. Photo: Peter Landschoot, Penn State

Management and Control

Infestations of spotted spurge in newly planted lawns can be reduced by establishing turf in late summer or fall. In established lawns, spurge populations can be reduced by improving turf density through fertilization, regular mowing, and use of turfgrasses well-adapted to site conditions. This weed can be controlled with various postemergence herbicides, particularly those containing combinations of 2,4-D, dicamba, MCPP, and/or fluroxypyr. Some preemergence herbicides will control spotted spurge from seed but have no effect on emerged plants.

Table 1. Some preemergence herbicide products labeled for control of spotted or prostrate spurge from seed.
Active ingredients	Product name(s)*
dithiopyr	Dimension 2EW; Dithiopyr 40WSB
pendimethalin	Pendulum 3.3 EC, Lesco Pre-M, Lesco Pre-M AquaCap
prodiamine	Barricade 65WG, Barricade 4FL, Prodiamine 4L, Prodiamine 65WG
isoxaben	Gallery 75DF

*Follow label precautionary statements, restrictions, and directions regarding tolerant turfgrass species, rates, and timing of applications.

Table 2. Some postemergence herbicide products labeled for control of spotted or prostrate spurge.
Active ingredients	Product name(s)*
2,4-D and 2,4-DP	Patron 170 (ester formulation)
2,4-D, 2,4-DP, and dicamba	Super Trimec (ester formulation)
2,4-D, clopyralid, and dicamba	Millennium Ultra 2**
2,4-D, fluroxypyr, and dicamba	Escalade 2 Herbicide, Escalade
2,4-D, fluroxypyr, triclopyr, and flumioxazin	Sure Power (ester formulation)
2,4-D, MCPP, dicamba	Trimec Classic, 3-D Herbicide, Primera Triplet SF, Threesome, Three Way
2,4-D, MCPP, dicamba, and carfentrazone-ethyl	Speedzone
2,4-D, MCPP, dicamba, and sulfentrazone	Surge
2,4-D, quinclorac, and dicamba	Quincept, 2DQ Herbicide, Triad QC Select, Triad SFZ Select
2,4-D, quinclorac, dicamba, and sulfentrazone	Q4 Plus
2,4-D and triclopyr	Chaser 2 Amine
2,4-D and triclopyr	Chaser Turf Herbicide (ester formulation)
2,4-D, fluroxypyr, and triclopyr	Momentum FX2
2,4-D, fluroxypyr, triclopyr, and sulfentrazone	Momentum 4-Score
2,4-D, triclopyr, dicamba, and pyraflufen-ethyl	4-Speed XT (ester formulation)
2,4-D, triclopyr, dicamba, and sulfentrazone	Foundation
2,4-D, triclopyr, dicamba, and sulfentrazone	Tzone SE (ester formulation)
carfentrazone-ethyl and quinclorac	SquareOne
fluroxypyr	Vista XRT
MCPA, fluroxypyr, and dicamba	Change Up
MCPA, fluroxypyr, and triclopyr	Battleship III
MCPA, MCPP, and dicamba	Trimec Encore, Tri-Power Selective Herbicide
MCPA, MCPP, dicamba, and carfentrazone-ethyl	Powerzone (ester formulation)
MCPA, triclopyr, and dicamba	Lesco Three-Way Ester II, Cool Power (ester formulation)
MCPA, triclopyr, and dicamba	Eliminate, Horsepower