Asthmaplant
Euphorbia hirta
Last reviewed: September 2026
Asthmaplant is toxic to dogs and cats.
Listed as toxic by the NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (opens in new tab) (last reviewed 2026-08-20). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435and your veterinarian's emergency line.
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants so you can choose a pet-safe native alternative for your yard.
Light
full sun
Water
medium
Size
4"–20" H × 4"–12" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
Native to
AL, AZ, CA, FL and 9 more states
Pollinators
bees, beetles
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaBrowse plants for this ecoregion
Asthmaplant is a small annual herb that grows as a low spreading groundcover or border plant. It produces tiny flowers from spring through fall and tolerates heat well in sunny locations. This native plant requires minimal care once established and naturally reseeds in favorable conditions.
In an HOA neighborhood
Asthmaplant takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: moderate. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Very informal appearance resembles a weed
- Annual lifecycle creates gaps when plants die back
- Self-seeding habit can appear untidy
Wildlife value
The long blooming period provides nectar for bees and beetles from March through November. Its small stature makes it useful for supporting pollinators in compact garden spaces.
Common questions
- How much sun does Asthmaplant need?
- Asthmaplant grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Asthmaplant bloom?
- Asthmaplant blooms in March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, and November.
- Where is Asthmaplant native?
- Asthmaplant (Euphorbia hirta) is native to AL, AZ, CA, FL and 9 more states, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
- Is Asthmaplant toxic to dogs?
- Yes. Asthmaplant is listed as toxic to dogs by the NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (aspca.org). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- Is Asthmaplant toxic to cats?
- Yes. Asthmaplant is listed as toxic to cats by the NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (aspca.org). If your cat has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- What pollinators does Asthmaplant attract?
- Asthmaplant draws bees and beetles.
- Is Asthmaplant HOA-friendly?
- Asthmaplant takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants like Asthmaplant and shows pet-safe natives for your ecoregion instead.
Planning a bed around it? Start a free plan with this plant
Not sure where to start? Take the 2-minute yard quiz