Euphorbia dendroides

A shrubby perennial of the Euphorbiaceae family, the tree spurge is a strictly Mediterranean species, found on the rocky coasts of the western and central Mediterranean, from the Iberian Peninsula to Greece and North Africa. It colonizes maritime cliffs, coastal scrublands, and open maquis, on dry, well-drained rocky substrates, often at a short distance from the sea.

It is distinctly different from other European spurges by its frankly bushy and woody habit, forming rounded and branched domes that can reach 1 to 2 meters in height. The thick, persistent stems bear oblong to lanceolate leaves, glaucous green to bluish green, grouped in terminal rosettes.

Its phenological behavior is singular: it enters summer dormancy during the dry season, losing part of its foliage, then resumes growth in autumn with the first rains. The floral umbels, of a bright yellow-green, crown the branches in large, very visible bouquets. In its natural habitat, its flowering extends from February to April.

In cultivation, it requires perfect drainage, a very sunny location, and protection against prolonged frosts, as it does not tolerate temperatures below about -5°C. Its architectural silhouette and adaptation to drought make it a plant of choice for Mediterranean gardens. The latex is irritating.