Leafy spurge may have arrived in North America through a Massachusetts ballast dump in 1827; contaminated crop seeds later helped the invasive plant spread across the US and Canada

Leafy spurge may have arrived in North America through a Massachusetts ballast dump in 1827; contaminated crop seeds later helped the invasive plant spread across the US and Canada

Leafy spurge is an invasive plant that was first recorded in Newbury, Massachusetts, in 1827. It spread rapidly across the northern United States and southern Canada during the early 1900s. By this time, it was established in several states and regions, including Ontario and Iowa. The plant has significant ecological impacts, often replacing native vegetation and causing issues for grazing animals.