Rhipsalis mesembryanthemoides

Rhipsalis mesembryanthemoides

Opuntia basilaris

Opuntia basilaris

Cylindropuntia x viridiflora

Santa Fe Cholla, Rat Tail Cholla, Cholla
Size
ex 1.5L pot
Availability: Sold Out
£24.99
Quick Overview
  • Hardy cholla cactus
  • Tolerates winter wet, snow and frost
  • Orange flower
  • Full sun and very good drainage
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Cylindropuntia x viridiflora, Santa Fe Cholla, is thought to be a naturally occuring hybrid between Cylindropuntia imbricata and Cylindropuntia whipplei. It is less stout than Cylindopuntia imbricata with thin pencil-like cylindrical cladodes that thicken with age. It is very fast-growing and will quickly form a tree-like cholla if given a free-draining substrate and plenty of sun. It is found in a relatively small geographical area around Santa Fe in New Mexico.

The species name, Cylindropuntia x viridiflora (green-flowered) is something of a misnoner as - although variable - it usually has a peach-coloured or orange flower.

Cylindropuntia x viridiflora is one of the hardiest of all the Chollas and providing it has good drainage will take temperatures down to at least -20C without protection and perhaps as much as -25C with protection. These are temperatures we are unlikely to have in the UK. As always the secret is the substrate: it must be a gritty very free-draining mix with little organic matter and ideally lots of limestone. A raised bed or a gradient helps.

Recommended for any hardy cactus enthusiast. It also makes an ideal - though prickly - houseplant while still small.


Additional Information

Order Caryophyllales
Family Cactaceae
Sub-Family Opuntioideae
Synonyms Grusonia × viridiflora, Opuntia × viridiflora
Geographical Origin USA: New Mexico
Cultivation Full sun. Sheltered spot. Free-draining gritty/sandy alkaline soil with very little organic material. Planting on a gradient is a useful way of increasing the drainage during the wet UK winters
Eventual Height 1.2M
Eventual Spread 0.5m
Hardiness Will take sub-zero temperatures down to at least -20C. Hardy in most locations but must have superb drainage in the UK. In very wet locations try it under an overhang or in the lee of a wall. Use a thick gritty mulch in winter
Cylindropuntia x viridiflora
Santa Fe Cholla, Rat Tail Cholla, Cholla
Size
ex 1.5L pot
Availability: Sold Out
£24.99
You could receive 20 Palm Points for writing a review for this product.
Add to My Wishlist Add to Compare Email to a Friend
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