Spotted Spurge (Note: This is a broadleaf weed, not a true grass, but frequently invades turfgrass)
Euphorbia maculata · Warm-season broadleaf annual weed, C4 photosynthetic pathway
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Invasive/Weed Grass or Turf Weed
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 10, functioning as an annual in cooler climates and potentially short-lived perennial or continuous germinator in warmer regions.
Grass Family
Euphorbiaceae (Spurge family, not Poaceae)
Variety / Cultivar
Wild type (common weed with distinctive red spot on leaves)
About This Grass
Low-growing, prostrate summer annual weed forming dense circular mats up to two feet across. Stems are hairy, reddish, and exude a milky white sap when broken. Leaves are small, opposite, oblong, and often feature a characteristic dark reddish-purple spot in the center. Flowers are extremely small, pinkish or white, clustered in leaf axils.
Blade Characteristics
Not a grass; leaves are broadleaf, oblong to oval, 1/4 to 1/2 inch long, finely toothed near the tip, with short petioles and opposite arrangement. Stipules are present at the base of the leaves.
Root System
Deep, slender taproot with fibrous secondary roots radiating outward, allowing it to survive in compacted or dry soils; establishes quickly from seed in thin turf.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to North America, widely distributed throughout temperate and tropical regions globally
Growth Habit
Prostrate, mat-forming annual that hugs the ground, spreading outward from a central taproot with multiple branched stems
Sunlight & Water Needs
Thrives in full sun and thrives in hot, dry conditions; highly drought-tolerant once established; prefers poor, compacted soils with low fertility and thin turf cover.
Mowing & Maintenance
Grows flat enough to evade standard mower heights; controlled culturally by maintaining a dense, healthy turf canopy, improving soil drainage, and hand-pulling or applying selective post-emergent broadleaf herbicides.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional tolerance for heat, drought, and poor compacted soils; exudes a toxic milky sap that can irritate skin and deter grazing animals; outcompetes weak turf in stressed lawns.
Ecological Information
Native pioneer species that colonizes disturbed ground, bare patches, and thin lawns; provides minimal wildlife value but acts as an indicator species for compacted soil, low fertility, or over-watering followed by dry spells.