In winter and spring, the large, gray-green leaves develop horizontally to maximize photosynthesis during the growing period.

In summer, after the flowering, the big leaves fall and the plant then produces a new generation of smaller, undulated leaves, compressed against each other along the stems to reduce the area of sun exposure and limit evapotranspiration.

These new leaves are covered with a thick coat of wooly, golden brown hairs.

[3] In the wild, P. bourgaei grows in shrublands, oak scrubs, and pine woods, on serpentine and calcareous rocks.

[6][4] In cultivation it requires a well-drained soil and an exposure with sun or partial shade, and tolerates limestone.