Unlike spotted spurge, which smothers and suffocates turf, nodding spurge grows mostly upright. It does little harm in turf, but it can become an unsightly nuisance. The entire plant is like a larger version of spotted spurge. Leaves are opposite each other, simple and oblique at the base. They are often a redish cast, or have a red spot in the center. When the stem of this plant is broken, it exudes a white latex-like sap. Very tiny flowers are found on long stems with small leaves at the top of the plant. Nodding spurge occurs in most areas across southern Canada and the United States.