5 plants with thorns and spines to avoid in family gardens . Regardless of where you live or your US hardiness zone, there are many thousands of trees, shrubs and perennials to choose from.

Thorns are modified branches, spines are modified leaves and prickles come from the outer layer of the plant. Plants with thorns include hawthorn, barberry, gooseberry, bougainvillea and pyracantha.

Thorns, spines and prickles are not often considered to be assets. The weirdly stout prickles on the distended trunks of floss silk tree are more of an oddity than an ornamental attribute.

Thorns are usually spaced widely enough to avoid, as with citrus trees. The spines of Agaves, Cacti and some other succulents are sharp and stiff, and can be hazardous to handle.

Thorns are defined as modified shoots. What does that mean? Basically, it’s a branch that has crossed over to the dark side. Thorns are made from the stuff of stems! According to Missouri ...

My first recollection of the plant crown of thorns (Euphorbia milii) was at my aunt’s home in the 1950s. ... The Euphorbia milii has inch-long spines that cover all of the stems and branches.