Perennial of the Euphorbiaceae family, this mountain spurge is present in the Pyrenees and the northwestern Mediterranean rim, with several subspecies whose precise distribution remains partly debated.
It colonizes rocky areas, dry grasslands, and high-altitude scree on various substrates, generally between 1,500 and 2,500 meters, in full sunlight. Its habit is strictly creeping to prostrate, forming dense and compact carpets only a few centimeters high, closely hugging the rock and soil.
The leaves are oval to obovate, quite broad, with a bright and deep green. The floral bracts, bright yellow to light yellow-green, dominate the entire plant at the time of flowering and give it a particularly striking appearance for such a small plant. In its natural habitat, its flowering extends from June to August depending on the altitude.
Like all spurges, it produces an irritating white latex; handling without caution is not recommended.
In cultivation, it requires very well-drained, poor soil, in full sun, protected from any stagnant winter moisture. It is suitable for alpine rock gardens and specialized cultivation containers.
Note: the determination of the subspecies would deserve confirmation on botanical specimens.