Size: Slowly to 20 feet tall (6 m) 20 feet in diameter (6 m)
Min. Temperature: 6°F (-14°C)
Water Requirements: Moderate water
Sun Requirements: Full sun to light shade
Origin: Western Mediterranean Basin
Leaf: Palmate, Stiff leaflets. to 2 feet wide (60 cm). Thin and armed with sharp orange spines, up to 3 feet long (90 cm).
Trunk: Clustering Covered with old leaf bases, and dense fibers, 6-10 inches (15-25 cm) in diameter.
Flower: Dioecious (male and females on separate plants). Flower stalk coming from among and under the leaves, 6 inches long (15 cm).
Fruit: Turning brownish red when ripe. Around 1 inch long (2.5 cm). Round to oval, containing butyric acid, rather foul smelling.
Seed: 0.75 inches long (2 cm). Oval.

Several varieties are available:
- Cerifera has blue green leaves
- Argentata has whitish leaf underside
- Elatior is not clustering

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