Virginia Tech Dendrology

cliff spurge Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia misera Benth. symbol: EUMI4
Leaf: Alternate, simple, drought deciduous, broadly ovate to nearly round, light green and pubescent above and below.
Flower: Distinctive, with a broad yellow center nectar disc, petals red to white with yellow or white fringed edges; borne at the branch tips.
Fruit: A 3-parted round capsule containing round gray-brown seeds.
Twig: Gray-brown, semi-succulent and very flexible; producing milky sap when broken.
Bark: Red-brown to gray-brown; developing shallow fissures.
Form: A low multi-stem shrub to 3 feet.

Additional Range Information: Euphorbia misera is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDA Plants Database
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information