Family: Euphorbiaceae

Origin, Description & Uses
Euphorbia bicolor is native to the south-central United States, including Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana. It is a small, upright, annual herb or subshrub with narrow leaves and distinctive greenish to reddish flower structures. Like other euphorbias, it produces a milky latex when damaged. This species is primarily grown as an ornamental and is valued for its unusual appearance and drought tolerance, making it suitable for xeric and low-water landscapes.

Risks & Threats
Euphorbia bicolor is considered low risk for Hawaiʻi. Although it is not native to the Hawaiian Islands, there is currently little evidence that it has invasive characteristics or poses a significant threat to natural areas. As with any introduced plant, avoid planting it near sensitive natural habitats and choose native or other low-risk alternatives when practical.

High Risk Traits:

• Unpalatable to livestock, increases in overgrazed pastures
  
• Toxic sap causes dermatitis and is poisonous to animals and humans
  
• Produces viable seed with explosive (ballistic) dispersal
  
• Tolerates poor, dry soils (clay, caliche, limestone, sand)
  
• Forms extensive colonies in disturbed areas
  
• Congeneric species include serious weeds (e.g., E. esula)

Low Risk Traits:

• Annual; no long-lived perennial structures
  
• No vegetative reproduction (taproot only)
  
• No persistent seed bank (>1 yr) confirmed
  
• No wind, water, or external animal dispersal adaptations
  
• No bird dispersal or gut-survival evidence
  
• Not a produce contaminant
  
• Not naturalized outside native range
  
• Not a major environmental weed
  
• Susceptible to broadleaf herbicides