321; see text Acantholimon (prickly thrift) is a genus of small flowering plants within the plumbago or leadwort family, Plumbaginaceae.

They are distributed from southeastern Europe to central Asia,[1] and also cultivated elsewhere in rock gardens.

The evergreen subshrubs are generally cushion to mat-forming, with densely tufted shoots bearing mostly awl (long, pointed spike) to needle or grass-like, prickle to spine-tipped hard-textured leaves.

The summer-borne flowers are composed of a funnel-shaped calyx, usually with a flared membranous margin, and five spreading petals.

[1] Selected species of Acantholimon include: This Caryophyllales article is a stub.