Euphorbia spinosa

Woody perennial at the base, from the Euphorbiaceae family, this spurge is native to the western Mediterranean basin, notably present in Italy, the Balkans, and on the coasts of the Iberian Peninsula.

It colonizes garrigues, open maquis, limestone screes, and sun-exposed rocky slopes, from sea level up to about 1,000 meters. It is perfectly adapted to severe summer drought conditions and the most ungrateful soils.

Its most immediately striking feature is its habit: it forms a dense, compact, and regular hemispherical cushion, reaching 40 to 60 cm in height and more in width. The old, persistent, and lignified branches end in solid spines that give the plant its name and provide it with a tight and defensive texture. The leaves are small, oval, and a bright, shiny green.

The yellow-green floral bracts dot the surface of the cushion at the time of flowering. In its natural habitat, its flowering extends from May to July.

In cultivation, it requires perfect drainage, a poor and calcareous soil, in full sun. It tolerates no stagnant moisture. Its architectural silhouette makes it a plant of character for Mediterranean rock gardens and dry gardens.