The billowing mop-heads of Euphorbia characias  are a prominent feature of coastal phrygana in spring, when they are a subtle greenish yellow and into summer as beige papery bracts.

The flowers are arranged in umbels (umbrella like) heads, with spokes that are divided and then subdivided with each division marked by a circular bract. The flowers themselves are arranged in an unusual pattern. The small flowers are unisexual with a single female flower surrounded by several male flowers and each group surrounded by a collar-like bract.

The vertical stems are encircled by long narrow leaves which leave scars on lower down.

All parts of the plant are poisonous and contain a milky sap which is highly irritant to skin and eyes.