Beautiful succulent with a unique and distinctive appearance, very sought after by collectors for its variegation. It has a greyish-brown stem covered by thin but robust spines. At the apex of the branches appear elongated leaves, of pale green-yellow colour, thanks to the variegation. It generates small and beautiful red oval flowers, usually all over the year, but gives its best with dry and sunny weather. E. milii is also called "crown of thorns" or " crown of Christ".