Spotted Spurge
Euphorbia maculata
Also listed as Chamaesyce maculata, Anisophyllum maculatum
Also known as Prostrate Spurge, Spotted Sandmat, Milk Purslane
Climate Match for your location
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Spotted spurge is a low-growing annual groundcover with small rounded leaves marked by reddish-brown spots and tiny pink flowers. It thrives in hot, dry conditions and spreads quickly across bare soil and gardens.
Why grow it
Spotted spurge establishes quickly on compacted or degraded soils where many ornamental groundcovers struggle, making it useful for temporary erosion control or soil pioneer roles in disturbed areas. Unlike slower-growing alternatives, it requires minimal inputs once established in hot, arid sites. Its low stature and dense growth habit provide seasonal weed suppression, though it functions better as a gap-filler than a permanent landscape feature in most permaculture systems.
Watch out for
This plant self-seeds readily and may persist longer than intended in favorable microclimates; monitor and remove seedlings if you wish to transition to perennial groundcovers. In irrigated gardens or areas with consistent moisture, it tends to become sparse and less effective, so site it deliberately in naturally dry zones rather than expecting uniform performance across varied conditions.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Euphorbiaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Spotted spurge is a low-growing annual groundcover with small rounded leaves marked by reddish-brown spots and tiny pink flowers. It thrives in hot, dry conditions and spreads quickly across bare soil and gardens.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Spotted Spurge grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Spotted spurge establishes quickly on compacted or degraded soils where many ornamental groundcovers struggle, making it useful for temporary erosion control or soil pioneer roles in disturbed areas. Unlike slower-growing alternatives, it requires minimal inputs once established in hot, arid sites. Its low stature and dense growth habit provide seasonal weed suppression, though it functions better as a gap-filler than a permanent landscape feature in most permaculture systems.
Watch out for
This plant self-seeds readily and may persist longer than intended in favorable microclimates; monitor and remove seedlings if you wish to transition to perennial groundcovers. In irrigated gardens or areas with consistent moisture, it tends to become sparse and less effective, so site it deliberately in naturally dry zones rather than expecting uniform performance across varied conditions.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Euphorbiaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar ground covers you might consider:
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