Although most homeowners concentrate their abilities on trying to remove spurges from the landscape, some value the petty spurge (Euphorbia peplus) for its ability to grow in moist, shady or tight spaces, filling in where other plants may be difficult to grow. Petty spurge is a self-seeding annual that grows between 6 and 18 inches tall. It features branching stems, green ovate leaves and small yellow flowers that bloom throughout the year. Like all spurges, the broken stems of petty spurge exude a milky sap that can irritate skin and eyes