Cylindropuntia x viridiflora
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 |
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