Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Monday - August 02, 2010

From: Soquel, CA
Region: California
Topic: Invasive Plants, Non-Natives, Diseases and Disorders
Title: Why are our Euphorbia myrsinites plants dying in Soquel, CA?
Answered by: Jimmy Mills

QUESTION:

Some of our Euphorbia myrsinites die in our garden for reasons we cannot understand. Do you have any explanation or suggest area we should be looking for?

ANSWER:

You don't give any clues about the conditions where your spurge plants are growing, so this makes your question hard to answer. Some plant problems can be attributed to sun and water; either too much or too little. Then there are insect and fungal problems. For help closer to home, I suggest contacting the Santa Cruz County Office of the University of California Cooperative Extension.

In researching this question I came up with a few facts that I will share with you.

First of all, Euphorbia myrsinites  (Myrtle Spurge) is not native to the US, but is introduced from Europe, and considered to be an invasive species. The mission of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is to increase the sustainable use and conservation of native wildflowers, plants and landscapes.

The Colorado Noxious Weed Act makes it unlawful to allow the Myrtle Spurge to produce seed.

It is listed as a noxious weed in Oregon.

And after reading the comments on this link from Dave's Garden, you may be glad that the plant is dying.

 

More Invasive Plants Questions

Root barriers for invasive plant roots from neighbor in Austin
July 24, 2011 - My neighbor's invasive plantings are invading my yard. He has Chinese parasol, China berry, Japanese honeysuckle, privets, ligustrums and native Mustang grape vines planted so closely together they ...
view the full question and answer

A method for killing nandina and ligustrum with herbicide
October 19, 2012 - Is there an effective herbicide that can be painted on the stumps of Nandina and Wax-leaf ligustrum to keep them from growing back? Thanks so much!
view the full question and answer

Forget-me-nots choking a spring in Bethlehem PA
June 20, 2013 - Hi Mr. Smarty Plants, I am restoring a native plant area along a spring that feeds directly into our local creek. Right now the spring is becoming choked with forget-me-nots, that I am trying ...
view the full question and answer

Getting rid of skunk cabbage in Hopedale OH
April 22, 2010 - How can someone get rid of skunk cabbage?
view the full question and answer

Butterflies attracted by Pink Evening Primrose from Burnet TX
July 30, 2012 - I see information on Pink Evening Primrose that says it attracts 'many butterflies' Please tell me which butterflies and name them? I've looked everywhere and am just exhausted and frustrated with...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.