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Evergreen sub-shrub of the Hypericaceae family, endemic to the Balearic Islands, where it grows in rocky scrublands, crevices of limestone cliffs, and open maquis, in full sunlight and dry conditions. It is a strictly Mediterranean plant, perfectly adapted to heat and summer drought.
It forms a small, dense, and branched bush, rarely exceeding 40 to 60 cm, with reddish woody stems. Its foliage is immediately recognizable: the leaves, small and persistent, are distinctly edged with a light yellow-green border that highlights their wavy-crisped edges, while their wrinkled surface and punctuated with translucent glands give them a uniquely bumpy texture in the genus. This bicolored aspect is an ornamental asset in its own right, well before flowering.
The flowers, bright yellow to golden yellow, have five widely spread petals and a particularly dense and luminous cluster of radiating stamens. In its natural habitat, its flowering extends from May to July. In cultivation under mild climates, it can extend beyond.
It requires a very well-drained, poor soil, in a fully sunny exposure, and does not tolerate stagnant moisture in winter. Although of Mediterranean origin, it is considered hardy down to about -10°C, provided the drainage is impeccable and the site sheltered. It is a choice plant for sunny rock gardens, south-facing walls, or container cultivation.