It is a shrub up to 2 m (7 ft) tall, with light brown stems, undivided leaves and small yellowish-green floral bracts.

[3] It differs from other Canary Island species of Euphorbia in the shape of the compound, umbel-like inflorescences, that are yellow-greenish in colour, and by the floral bracts falling off before the fruit ripens.

[5] There has been considerable confusion over the scientific name to be used for one of the more common species of "tabaiba" found in the Canary Islands.

A proposal to conserve the name Euphorbia obtusifolia Poir., in view of its widespread use, was rejected in 2000.

[2] Its distribution does not overlap with Euphorbia regis-jubae, which is found in the eastern islands: Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.