This succulent has 6-angled upright branch spiny stems and forms a open columnar habit. It has pungent grey brown twin spines arranged along the segment margins and the reddish to grey cup-shaped flowers appear terminally during midsummer.

Hardiness zones 9 to 11

Euphorbia echinus is naturally found in northern Africa growing in Morocco in coastal scrub and in rocky places on the adjoining hillsides where it can form large colonies. 

It prefers an open to expose sunny position and grows in very well drained poor to moderately fertile sandy gravelly soil. It is drought and high temperature tolerant but frost tender.

This Euphorbia is grown for its drought hardiness and its cactus like habit.  It is planted and small or arid gardens specimen or used in rockeries. It is also grown in succulent gardens and commonly used as a potted plant for indoor or outdoor use.  

It is suitable coastal and low-mountain regions and establishes in 3-5 years and is long-lived. This succulent is also mass planted on embankments or used in roof gardens, requiring little care once established. ID 2661

Euphorbia (ew-FOR-bee-a) echinus (EK-in-us)

Euphorbiaceae (yoo-for-bee-AY-see-ee)
Spurge Family