Leaf
Pierre Bonnet, Tela Botanica · CC BY-SA 2.0
Mediterranean spurge
Euphorbia characias L.
Also known as: Large Mediterranean spurge
Family: Euphorbiaceae
80 cm to 1.2 m tall
Garrigue, dry gardens, banks, poor, free-draining soils
Flowering: February – May
Full sun
Part shade
Hardy to -12°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
Its milky white sap irritates the skin and eyes — gloves must be worn when pruning it.
🍃 Leaves
Evergreen, narrow, blue-grey, arranged in a spiral along the stems
🌸 Flowers
Large globular yellow-green inflorescences with a brown-purple eye
🍎 Fruits
Small 3-lobed capsules
🪵 Bark
Erect stems, milky white sap, toxic and irritant
🗺️ Distribution
Mediterranean basin; common in the garrigue and dry hillsides of southern France.
🐝 Value for pollinators
Large early yellow-green inflorescences rich in nectar, visited by bees and various insects early in the season.
✂️ Horticultural uses
Dry Mediterranean borders, rock gardens; strong architectural silhouette in winter and spring.
⚠️ Possible toxicity
Sap (latex) irritant to the skin and eyes, toxic if ingested; to be handled with care.
🌿 Other Euphorbiaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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