# Mediterranean spurge (*Euphorbia characias*)

Mediterranean spurge is a bright green plant with unique yellow flowers. It grows in sunny places and can be found in gardens and wild areas. Its thick leaves help it stay healthy in warm weather.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Habitat:** Coastal areas

![Mediterranean spurge](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/%28MHNT%29_Euphorbia_characias_-_inflorescences_-_Jardin_Botanique_Henri_GAUSSEN.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%28MHNT%29_Euphorbia_characias_-_inflorescences_-_Jardin_Botanique_Henri_GAUSSEN.jpg)

## Appearance

The Mediterranean spurge has sturdy, upright stems densely covered in spirally arranged, narrow blue-green leaves. Its most striking feature is the large, rounded clusters of bright chartreuse-yellow bracts, which appear like giant lime-green flowers in late winter and spring.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Malpighiales
- **Family:** Euphorbiaceae
- **Genus:** Euphorbia

## Interesting facts

- It can thrive in tough, rocky soils where other plants struggle.
- Its scientific name honors a Greek physician from ancient times.
- Some ants love to carry its seeds to their nests for a tasty treat!
- The bright "flowers" are actually special leaves called bracts!

## Special abilities

- **Sap Shield:** Mediterranean spurge has a milky, sticky sap that oozes out when cut, helping it defend against hungry herbivores who find it irritating.
- **Drought Defender:** Mediterranean spurge has thick, leathery leaves and stems that can store water, helping it survive long, dry periods in its sunny Mediterranean home.
- **Evergreen Power:** Mediterranean spurge keeps its leaves all year long, allowing it to photosynthesize and grow even during the cooler months.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 60-120 cm
- **Spread:** 60-90 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late winter to late spring
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Moderate
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Drinks nectar from its tiny flowers.
- **Eaten by:** Spurge hawkmoth (*Hyles euphorbiae*) — Its caterpillars feed on spurge leaves.
- **Symbiotic with:** Wood ant (*Formica rufa*) — Ants carry seeds for a fatty appendage, aiding dispersal.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Don't touch the sap, as it can irritate your skin. Always look but don't touch!

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Mediterranean spurge?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Mediterranean spurge?

60-120 cm

### How wide does Mediterranean spurge spread?

60-90 cm

### How big are the flowers on Mediterranean spurge?

0.5-1 cm

### When does Mediterranean spurge bloom?

Late winter to late spring

### Is Mediterranean spurge edible?

No

### Is Mediterranean spurge toxic?

Moderate

### What is Mediterranean spurge's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Jefferson Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jefferson-park) — Washington, US · Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Mediterranean spurge: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mediterranean-spurge)