Look out for the leafy spurge noxious weed
Today, we bring awareness to the leafy spurge noxious weed midway through National Invasive Species Awareness Week to educate our community so we can work as a team to stay protected from this harmful weed. The leafy spurge contains a milky latex that causes burns and rashes when in contact with human skin and is toxic to livestock.
It is currently limited to Plateau Creek and Mesa, and our goal is to keep it from spreading throughout the Colorado River corridor with the assistance of our community members reporting any sightings of the plant.
Identification features of the leafy spurge:
- Bluish-green hue
- Leaves spiral around the stem
- Stem contains milky latex
- Discrete yellow-green flowers
- Flowers April through May
- Creeping perennial
We must work together as a community to identify and treat the leafy spurge, as it can harm humans upon contact, reduce habitats for wildlife, and cause economic loss in grazed pastures and hay production.
If you have encountered leafy spurge, please report it to Mesa County Noxious Weed and Pest Management at weed.pest@mesacounty.us or call 970-255-7121. Mesa County Noxious Weed and Pest Management offers private property owners free management assistance with this weed.
