In the beautiful nature there are many kinds of plants with thorns, each unique and with different characteristics. Through this article you will be able to meet the most showy, discover why they have thorns, their characteristics, basic care and much more.
Plants with thorns
There is a saying that says "For love of roses thorns are endured", and it is valid to ask the question; Is this saying true? Well, let's see, surely you have noticed that some plants with the most beautiful flowers have thorns, while one of the most famous in this field are roses or rosebushes.
However, there are many other species with spines besides these, so it is very likely to find Flowering shrubs that have spines.
What many do not know is that you can find more plants with thorns than we can imagine, because certainly the presence of thorns has its purpose and importance for the plants in which they are found, so we can say that these do not they are there by chance.
All the plants with thorns They are generally those that live in normally dry places, where it rains very little or not at all, as well as territories where temperatures during the day could exceed 30°C and reach 50°C in the driest seasons in some specific places. .
Why do plants have thorns or spikes?
Nature is incredible and in it we can find a great variety of species, especially plants, where many of these have thorns and spikes, the reasons for which this characteristic develops being several and different.
One of them is for protection, which means that if you find a plant that has spikes, it is most likely that these spines act as a defense mechanism against those herbivorous animals that seek to feed on them.
Another reason for plants to have thorns is because the spikes help prevent water from evaporating. That is why it is very common to find thorns in bushes, Climbing plants, carpets, cacti or other species.
In addition, we can find plants in which the development of spines is due to the fact that they replace their leaves in order to help preserve moisture. In this way, plants with spikes and bushes with thorns are more common in arid areas, with any type of climate.
All the plant spines They also fulfill the function of being the shelter or den for small animals such as insects and other species, which, being in any other place, would be the food of other animals.
Inside the stems of these plants you can find water, an irreplaceable liquid for the life of all living beings. This means that if there are plants that carry water stored inside them, the most logical thing is that they should develop something that protects them, and that is where the formation of spines comes in.
What are plants with thorns?
Needless to say, there are many species of plants with thorns around the world, with different characteristics and forming in many types of climates, where we can mention the following:
Holly (Ilex Aquifolium)
The holly tree is a plant Always green which can be from 6 to 15 meters high, the leaves of this shrub are oval, green and leathery, and contain thorns on their edges, especially when they are young.
But when this shrub gets old, the thorns are only found on its lower branches. As for its flowers, they usually measure approximately 9 millimeters in diameter, they are pink and white, while its fruit is a spherical cherry that turns red when ripe.
Cacti (Cactaceae)
It is said that the thorns that the cactus has, is one of the main qualities and the most emblematic in relation to this species, however, in this family there are different types of cacti and they all have their own characteristics. Here are a few:
Cacti (Ferocactus latispinus)
It is a cactus that is also known by the name of "crow's nail" or "devil's tongue", native to regions of the southeastern United States and Mexico. It has radial spines, these can be about 2 centimeters long.
However, in the center of these plants grow ribbed spines that are reddish in color, which can reach 3,5 centimeters in length. The Ferocactus has to receive a lot of sunlight and stay in very warm temperatures, but they tolerate a climate below -4ºc.
Cacti (Agave Potatorum)
It is a cactus that is also known by the name of Maguey de monte, it comes from Mexico, Central America or the southwestern United States.
It has rosette-shaped leaves, with edges full of thorns, and it is a cactus that can live in direct sunlight without problems. However, these plants can withstand climates below 5ºC, only the soil must be dry.
Cacti (Euphorbia trigona)
It is also called cathedral cactus and African milk tree, native to southeastern Africa and is easy to recognize because its stems are raised, which usually reach a height of between 15 and 25 centimeters that are separated by shrinkage.
As well as for its blade-shaped and pointed spines, which have a reddish brown color, while their measurements are approximately between 2 and 4 millimeters.
This cactus with thorns can withstand climates of less than 8ºC, however, if this happens the cactus will lose its leaves, so it is best to keep it in very warm temperatures and with good shade.
Mother-in-law's seat (Echinocactus Grusonii)
The Echinocactus grusonii is a plant with thorns that also has some very curious names, such as mother-in-law's seat or hedgehog cactus. It is a cactus that has a circular shape and is from Mexico, a species that is currently in danger of extinction.
It has thorns throughout its body and these are yellowish in color, they appear from the areoles and their measurements can be up to 3 centimeters, in the case of being radial, or between 5 and 6 centimeters in the case of being central.
However, as the years go by, this plant takes on the shape of a column and can reach a height of up to one meter, all despite the fact that it takes a long time to grow, where the period it takes can be approximately ten years.
It is very possible that during this time the pot should be changed approximately twice before being able to plant them in the ground, the cold is not something that affects these types of plants, however, in the time of their youth they should be care more.
Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia Milii)
The crown of thorns is also known by its scientific name "Euphorbia milli", it is a plant that has thorns and its main stem is very similar to that of a cactus, that is, it has many thorns, however, it should be noted that of these plants develop super beautiful flowers.
It is native to Madagascar and can remain both outside and inside houses, reaching up to a meter and a half in height, very resistant to high temperatures, but they are very weak at low temperatures, which is why it is recommended that these plants remain inside the home in the winter time.
The reproduction of this plant can be by cutting the stem, where it must be allowed to dry for a period of approximately five days, so that they begin to come out as a type of scab and at that time the plant must be planted so that a new shoot of crown of thorns is born.
Jimson weed (Datura Stramonium)
It is a plant that can be easily found throughout the region of Spain, where today you can find other types of plants with thorns dating back to ancient times, and the Jimson weed is included in these plants, which They have long been used as medicinal plants.
However, these should be used with great caution because they are toxic, which is why they are also used as a hallucinogen.
This plant can be known because its flowers have a particular trumpet shape, which is why they are very showy and when the flower is fertilized, it is when a type of capsule emerges in its seeds, which contain spikes and inside is the toxic part
Madagascar Palm (Pachypodium Lamerei)
Plant also known as the Madagascar palm, is another of the plants with thorns, which can be found on its stem. From this place, smooth, large and very greenish leaves are born that have white flowers, which contain a very pleasant aroma.
This plant with thorns is from Africa and does not require much watering during the winter season, however, in the summer time it must be watered every two or three weeks, but before doing so we must realize that the land already it is dry.
Phoenix Palms (Phoenix Sp)
It is a perennial plant from South Asia and North Africa, they have trunks that are mostly straight and solitary, but depending on the species there can be many, as in the case of the date palm or the Phoenix reclinata.
They have to be very long and can be between 4 and 5 meters long, although sometimes it can be more. Near the petiole they have leaves that are really very sharp spines that can measure from 5 to 7 centimeters, so to be able to handle these plants, you have to cover your hands very well.
Borriquero Thistle (Onopordum Acanthium)
El Borriquero thistle It is a plant from Eurasia, annual or biennial, although with it it will always depend on the characteristics of the climate. The stems are greyish-white or greyish-green, which usually branch at the top and can reach up to 2 meters in height.
They have spines in all their parts that measure from 2 to 10 millimeters, the leaves can measure up to 35 centimeters and are elliptical or lanceolate in shape, made up of pinnae or ovate or triangular-shaped leaflets.
On the other hand, its flowers are pink and are grouped in umbels called chapters, which measure approximately 5 centimeters, while the stem of this silver is a type of vegetable that humans use for consumption.
Rosebush (Rosa Sp)
The rose bush is a perennial plant from Asia, even though there are some types that come from North America, Europe and even Africa. It is believed that there are more than 30.000 crops, most of which reach a height of 2 to 20 meters and have stems covered with many thorns, which can cause a lot of damage.
Its leaves can be deciduous or perennial and have sharp edges like a saw, while its flowers are of various colors and some can have an excellent aroma depending on the species.
Rose bushes are really beautiful, in addition to being very resistant to pruning, which must always be done so that they can develop better, adding that they are also very resistant to moderate frosts.
Blackthorn (Ulex Europaeus)
Ulex europaeus or espinillo is a plant that has thorns and its flowers are yellow, originating in Europe and need a lot of sunlight to be able to grow and develop well, although in places with a lot of leftovers these plants do not grow well. For this reason, it is advisable to have them in full sun or partial shade, but never in a completely shady place.
It is a very resistant plant that can live in many regions, even in those where growth is impossible for other types of plants, however, great care must be taken not to place them in places close to high risk of fire, since this is pyrophyte.