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Native of western, central and southern Europe (north to Iceland and Norway) and northwest Africa. Generally restricted to sand dunes or limestone pavements and typically coastal when not on limestone.<br>
From 20–140 cm high but sometimes up to 2 metres. Spread by suckers and can cover large areas. The stems have very numerous stiff bristles and many straight spines. The young stems and spines and the mature leaves tend to be very red with young growth a bright scarlet and older growth a deep maroon.<br>
The flowers are cream-white although rarely also pale pink. They are 2–4 cm diameter with five petals, which produce a distinctive globular dark purple to black hips.<br>