Spiny spurge
Euphorbia spinosa · Euphorbiaceae
📷 Giuseppe Frizzi · Public domain
⚠️ Latex et sève irritants/toxiques. Contact cutané : dermatite; ingestion : irritation digestive chez chiens/chats/enfants.
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around spiny spurge and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Flowering
- May to June
- Mature size
- 40 cm tall
- Growth
- Slow
- Hardiness
- Very hardy, down to -15°C
- Origin
- Mediterranean Basin, arid zones
- Soil type
- Well-drained, poor to average
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability medium.
Expert tips
The key tip
Euphorbia spinosa thrives in dry rocky beds, in direct south-facing exposure. Poor, even chalky soil.
The common mistake
Enriching the soil or overwatering: the plant becomes lush, weedy, loses its spines and flowers sparingly.
The pro's trick
A splash of white mineral (limestone, quartz) around it boosts perceived hardiness and naturally lowers soil moisture.
Care
Watering
The spiny spurge tolerates drought very well once established. Water moderately during the first year to encourage root development, then reduce significantly. In temperate climates, winter watering is generally not necessary.
Exposure
Plant in full sun for a compact form and generous flowering. This exposure also strengthens hardiness and prevents legginess. A minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight is recommended.
Soil
Choose well-drained soil, even if poor or rocky. Excess winter moisture is more damaging than poor nutrition. Amend with sand or gravel if your soil is too compact or clayey.
Pruning and cutting
Pruning is not essential. In late winter, simply remove any dead or damaged branches. Light pruning after flowering can thicken the growth habit, but be careful of the spines when handling.
Fertilizing
The spiny spurge doesn't require regular fertilizing. A moderate application of balanced fertilizer in spring is enough on poor soil. Avoid excessive nitrogen applications, which weaken the plant.
Diseases and pests
Very resistant, it mainly fears stagnant moisture which causes root rot. No major pests generally affect it. Good drainage prevents most problems.
Did you know?
The spiny spurge has been a plant of semi-arid Mediterranean regions since Antiquity. Its white latex, like that of all Euphorbiaceae, was once used medicinally, though it is highly irritating. Its sharp spines are actually transformed stipules, making it a remarkably well-adapted species to hostile environments.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Wood spurgeEuphorbia amygdaloides
- Caper spurgeEuphorbia lathyris
- Albanian spurgeEuphorbia characias
- Garden crotonCodiaeum variegatum
- Griffith's spurgeEuphorbia griffithii
- Desert candleEuphorbia abyssinica
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.