Are you Ready to Purge the Spurge?
Myrtle Spurge is a Class 2 Noxious Weed that grows in large, scattered colonies throughout public lands in Salt Lake City, especially in the foothills. The plant reproduces in the spring, which is why we have to pull them now.
Join SLC’s Trails & Natural Lands Division on April 13 for the Annual Purge Your Spurge Event to help eradicate this weed!
Saturday April 13, 2019 : 09:30 am – 12:00 pm
Sign up with groups or as an individual!!
Identification:
- Flowers: Inconspicuous flowers with showy yellow bracts.
- Seeds: Plants spread primarily by seed and are capable of projecting seed up to 15 feet.
- Leaves: Blue-green triangular shaped leaves with white milky latex sap.
- Flowering Time: April – June.
Why Purge it?
- Myrtle spurge is an escaped ornamental that quickly crowds out native plants.
- Although it is touted as deer resistant and extremely drought-tolerant, it is rapidly invading our foothills and wild lands along the Wasatch Front.
- It poses a threat to children and adults who come in contact with its caustic sap.
- Myrtle Spurge is a Utah State listed noxious weed and therefore is restricted for sale within the state.
It’s a competition!
How does the friendly competition work?
The Myrtle Spurge collected and bagged at each location will be weighed and the champions selected accordingly!
Last year our teams pulled a total of 9,385 lbs of myrtle spurge!!
What will I need?
- Pre-registration for this event is required.
- Remember to wear sunscreen, long sleeves, long pants, and closed toed shoes
- Bring a refillable water bottle
- Bring a shovel (if you have one)
- Gloves (SLC will provide gloves to those who don’t bring their own)
Sorry, but due to the nature of Myrtle Spurge, no one under 12 will be able to participate in this event.
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slcGreen Blog 
Can we do this again?? I think we have to have multiple days to get maximum benefit! I’ve been seeing it up Big Cottonwood and Parley’s 😦