South African cactiform Euphorbia with stems to about 2 inches in diameter, branching at the base and above to form irregular clumps (not pretty mounds) to about 20 inches wide and 6 inches tall. The stems are studded with long spines, which are really modified peduncles, as found on other plants in this group, and presumably these spines inspired the fierce epithet. 9-12 ribs, green to dark red cyathia, separate male and female individuals.

This spiny stem succulent is reasonably common and well behaved in cultivation. It can be distinguished from two related Euphorbias based on the shape of its clumps (not regular, not smoothly rounded) and sometimes the number of ribs (aggregata has 8-9, pulvinata has 7-10). Like all plants in this group it demands strong light for the best (most compact) form. It is typically propagated from cuttings.

Two separate individuals (male and female) are required to produce seed, and hybrid offspring may be produced by female plants flowering close to other succulent Euphorbia species. These hybrids (especially with mammillaris group members) tend to be difficult to resolve from the parent species.

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