Tony O’Neill , expert gardener and well - selling author of the illustrious “ Simplify Vegetable Gardening , ” “ Composting Masterclass , ” and “ Your First Vegetable Garden , ” combines lifelong passion and expert knowledge to simplify horticulture . His mission ? Helping you cultivate a booming garden . More on Tony O’Neill
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one C of spiky plants have spiky bow , torn arm , and even prickly fruit . flora with unfeigned spiky leaves are less common and broadly speaking live in xeric environs . A unique spiky folio plant is the Solanum quitoense , a family member of the eggplant .

industrial plant with spiky leafage are common among succulents , though the often - mentioned cacti have spiky stem and not spiky parting . The bristly pear pads are leaves that evolved into lush spines .
This article covers a range of plants with spiky leaves and includes some with spiky stems . Spiky plants are of extra pastime in adding interesting characteristic to your garden , decorate your home and keeping your landscape attractive .
Table of Contents

Unique Spiky Plants
Here are less rough-cut plants with spiky leaf . The Japanese Sage is an specially belligerent industrial plant with lanceolate , linear leaves with an aggressively sharp tip at the end . The spikes of thenaranjillamentioned above are not on the leaf margins but are prominently scattered on the leaf Earth’s surface .
Japanese Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta)
Sago ’s decoration is a tropic and sub - tropical showy evergreen member of an ancient flora family know as Cycadaceae , dating 200 million geezerhood back . The plant is native to the Japanese Islands of Kyusha and Ryukyu and southern China .
in general grown as out-of-door pot plants , the sago palm leaves have a midrib that part into numerous three to six - in narrow-minded leaflets with spiked ends .
Sago palms are low - upkeep but prefer bright but collateral light and well - drain soil . you’re able to expect some pain if stung by the spiky folio . Also , be cognizant that the plant is extremely toxic to dogs , and a single seed ingested can cause death .

Naranjilla (Solanum quitoense)
Naranjilla , a native of Ecuador with spiky leave , is a fellow member of the Solanaceae class , a cousin of tomatoes , white potato vine , eggplants , and common pepper .
This tropic plant has large , profuse green leaves that can hand up to two feet ( 60 cm ) long , with deep serrated bound , and covered in tiny , purple hairs ( trichomes ) .
The naranjilla ’s dark green leaves attend soft but grow sharp irritant along the vein to discourage larger herbivores . The naranjilla ’s spiky leaves are not as belligerent as some other species but sufficiently to deter touching or munching .

Naranjilla fruit are like footling oranges , hence the Spanish name that means short orange . In Ecuador , the plant ’s sweet ( when mature ) fruit succus is a popular drinkable called lulo , which try out like a portmanteau of lemon tree and ananas .
Some eggplant agriculturalist , and it seems most large in the Turkish Orange variety , may find their plants have spiky leaves . It is still being determined why the Naranjilla factor sometimes infiltrates eggplants , even though both are from the sameSolanaceaefamily .
Alice Sundew (Drosera Aliciae)
I had to add at least one unusual carnivorous plant to the mix . TheDrosera aliciaeis an easy - to - care - for plant suited to first - clip gardener . imbed as a fellow traveller plant , it can aid carry off gnats , ant , fly and other pests , making a repast of them .
Each leaf has fine spikes and secreter at the pourboire that release a steamy , dew - like core that stay on the leaf all Clarence Day . The dew lures insects that the plant ’s enzymes decompose for intake .
Succulents – 4 Common Spike Leaf Plant Genera
Agaves
In addition to the many out-of-door - friendly agave multifariousness , many flourish as indoor plant . agave are among the most well - liked bristled plants with their distinctive blue - immature foliage .
The agave flora can arrive at up to six feet magniloquent ( 23 feet tall when florescence ) . Flowering is a once - in - a - lifetime event because the adult plant subsequently dies . It may take 10 to 25 years to bloom .
Fresh seeds are easy to broadcast , but most existing plant are grow from Agave plantlets grow at the industrial plant ’s basis .

Its recollective , spiky leaves course mix in to create a rosette and a beautiful cupful - shaped flower school principal , making it idealistic for landscaping grand spaces .
Agave plant life add cast and vividness to a xeriscape outdoors , and some varieties are suitable for indoor increase ( if you want a plant with pointy spine ) . meld Agave plant with rock gardens and with other succulent with spiky farewell can help you develop a alone flavor .
As will all plant , but especially succulents , see to it the dirt drains well . While succulents are broadly drought resistant , all plants rely on some water for photosynthesis .

succulent are more drouth - immune because they do n’t respire during the 24-hour interval ’s heat , limiting moisture loss due to transpiration . It ’s nature ’s way of helping them pull through temperatures that would kill other plants .
The Queen Victoria agave is one of the most valued species and is parent to several hybrids and subspecies . Cultivars are often develop to enhance and alter the blanched variegation this flora crack . knockout is rarely so downhearted - sustentation .
Though called an aloe , it is not part of the aloe family . The century flora is a popular ornamental plant native to Central America , southern North and northerly South America .

The American aloe is a monocarpic metal money that lay in the nutrients needed for producing a single , erect inflorescence in its leaves for decades . efflorescence are up to 30 understructure ( 9 grand ) improbable and develop from the centre of the basal rosette .
Aloes
As far as spiky plant go , aloe vera is belike better known for the medicinal prop of its prickly leave of absence . Still , only a few know they make an excellent natural rooting agent .
bind the cutting in the aloe vera foliage and pull up stakes for an hr before inserting it into water or damp sterilized pumice to the solution .
The Aloe genus has over 500 species of perennial succulent . Most mintage have duncish succulent spiky leaves growing in little potato . Aloes vary in size of it and are popular decorative menage plants .

These spiky plants should be place in a south or west windowpane where they can get at least six hour of sun . They grow best in full sun or bright , collateral Inner Light .
Plant relocation should always be gradual and incremental over a hebdomad or three , bet on the dividing line between its current environment and intend location .
Always ensure that the soil is dry before watering exhaustively . Indoor succulents should always be grow in well - drained soil with adequate parts of constituent and neutral stuff .

check the pot ’s drainage holes are n’t stymy to permit water flow .
Let ’s initiate with the most unusual aloe spiky plant , the Aloe cameronii , a real eye - catcher with copious copper - loss leaves .
The leaf colouring depend on the quality and quantity of sun and weewee . The red aloe spiky specimens spring up reddish - Orange River blossom in the fall .

The ruby-red aloe makes a great accession to other spiky works .
The spiky dark-green leaves of the lacing aloe are lined with clean spiky prickles along the edges . This spiky , torch flora is an evergreen succulent perennial with wizard rosette mob with fleshy , lance - shaped , incurvate leafage .
The leaves are pallid green if keep in low light but turn dark unripe in full sun . Each folio showing scattered white spots , raised near the radix and becoming thorny towards the point . The lacing aloe is one of the little specimen and only grow about a foot ( 30 cm ) high .

Like most aloes , the foliage are run along with blanched spiky spine on the margins , and the top spike is soft . Of all the plants with spiky leaves , the aloes are my best-loved , principally for their vibrant stunner but also because they are so easy to propagate using offsets .
Of all the plants with spiky leaves , this is plausibly the most placeable name , if not the plant . Aloe vera , also known as the medicine industrial plant , is mainly grown for the gel in the leaves .
The gelatin from these spiky plant ’ leaves is used for medicative properties , let in moisturizing , cool down and soothing in treating superficial burns and sunburn .
This truly xeric plant boom in wry conditions with full sunlight . If grow indoors , place it in a South - facing windowpane for burnished indirect light if you need it to flower . turn out the works now and again to reveal all side to the sun .
As with other indoor plants , admit the grease to completely dry before rewatering and repot at least every two class . Repotting also will enable you to diffuse baby plants using shoots from the mother plant life .
Outdoors , aloe plants lend themselves to xeric landscapes in red-hot and waterless conditions with taller agave plants at the back , a rockery underneath , and cascading succulent in front .
Snake Plant (Dracaena trifasciata)
Also know as the mother - in - law ’s tongue , snake plant are a dearie for their mosquito - repelling power . If you ’re having a mosquito effect , the snake industrial plant might be your answer .
The snake in the grass plant life produce well in containers and is often used as a ground top makeweight in interior landscape figure where it can grow up to three feet tall .
The snake plant is a low - light plant that needs only two to six hours of direct sunlight day by day . Root rot is a risk , so base lacrimation on soil moisture levels , not a agenda , and cut watering tier in winter when growth slows .
Besides stem rot jeopardy , the snake plant survives in depressed brightness , depressed humidity and temperature above 50 ° F ( 10 ° one C ) . consort to a NASA study , the Snake River plant helps move out pollutants like methanal , benzol , and ammonia from a room .
Cacti
As refer earlier , most cacti do n’t have true leave . The Pereskia , the hereditary family of the cactus , have endure real farewell . The burred pear cacti family ( Opuntia ) has succulent spines on which the yellow flowers grow to produce tasty fruit .
The cask cactus is a lovely plant , but to say it has spiky leaves requires you to stretch your imagination .
The Best Defensive Plantings to Protect Your Yard
While rolls of razor wire may protect your holding , a right option is to use natural defensive planting , spiky works that can deter opportunistic interloper . A waspish pear tree or firethorn hedge can make entry difficult and block any possible escape road .
This part breed industrial plant like the firethorn , gun barrel cactus , Devil ’s walking stick , prickly pear cacti , and dear locust tree . Dense bushes with spiky folio like the Draco tree , holly plant life , and spiky base like the hedgehog love apple are large deterrents to vagrant wanderers pass your fencing bank line .
Prickly Pears (Opuntia humifusa)
I choose theO. humifusafor its allowance of cold-blooded atmospheric condition , a exploit made potential by its natural anti - freezing . Also known as the gloomy prickly Pyrus communis , the Opuntia humifusa is a lump - form succulent shrub with stamp pad ten inch ( 25 cm ) across .
Covered with cluster of mordacious needle - like bristles , the pads are well able-bodied to eviscerate blood .
Scarlet Firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea“Kasan’)
This briary , evergreen , fast - growing plant with sour dark-green leafage is a interloper ’s nightmare . The prospicient thorns burn like blast and make an impenetrable hedge . In former leaping , the hedge is covered in white-hot flowers that spoon into small shiny orange berries .
Golden Barrel Cactus (Echinocactus grusonii)
Generally , the plant is about two groundwork tall , but as it senesce , it produces offsets to constitute clumps that can reach six foot ( 1.8 m ) across . Barrel cactus are best imbed tight together to create an impenetrable roadblock among heavy rocks or boulders .
Devil’s Walking Stick (Aralia spinosa)
Both stem , and leaf stalk are build up with stout , sharp spines . The Devil ’s walk stick grow up to 20 feet tall ( 6 megabyte ) and ego - spreads , forming brushwood and an dense fence line .
Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata)
Dragon Tree is a tough , slow - growing , drought - liberal , spiky plant that does well in temperate mood . In their aboriginal habitat , they can reach 20 foot tall but can be pruned .
Christ Thorn (Euphorbia milii)
The Crown of Thorns is a deciduous shrub with bright green leaves and pinkish flower . The plant ’s historical bearing in the Middle East led some to trust that the stems of this plant were used in Christ ’s crown of sticker .
You should bear compact leather glove to keep injury when form with this bush .
Porcupine Tomato (Solanum pyracantha)
Solanum pyracantha is a spikey evergreen bush native to Madagascar . It may be grown as an ornamental plant , requiring warm , frost - devoid conditions and full Lord’s Day to partial ghost .
This works should be used with care , it sow profusely , and seedlings can originate sharply , produce thorns rapidly .
Blue Princess Holly Plant (Ilex x meserveae)
The holly plant has many species ( Ilex family ) , and not all have spiky parting . The Ilex x meserveae has typical leaf often seen on Christmas cards : glossy blue - greenish and bright red Charles Edward Berry .
This is a plant that truly shines in winter . The dense leafage will remain vibrant throughout the winter , strikingly contrasting with drab grays and Brown .