Cylindropuntia alcahes
Cylindropuntia alcahes, Clavellina Cactus is a robust shrubby Cholla from Baja California where it grows in a very hot dry climate on sandy, gritty alkaline soils. It has many branching densely-spined segments forming a low spiky bush. The tubercles are low but distinct and when mature it produces flowers with pale greenish-yellow petals tinged with brownish-red markings with many green filaments and yellow anthers. These are followed by yellow tubercled fruits.
Coming from such an arid landscape as the Baja California peninsula it is not surprising that Cylindropuntia alcahes is so well adapted to surviving extremes of heat and drought. What is somewhat surprising is its ability to cope with low sub-zero temperatures. However, it remains a challenge to grow this stunningly architectural xerophyte in the UK because of our notoriously wet winters. A perfectly free-draining gritty substrate, ideally on a raised bed or a south-facing gradient is essential. Large slabs of flat rock can be used to drain surface water away from the roots before it permeates down through the substrate.
Additional Information
| Order | Caryophyllales |
|---|---|
| Family | Cactaceae |
| Sub-Family | Opuntioideae |
| Synonyms | Cylindropuntia alcahes var. burrageana, Cylindropuntia brevispina, Grusonia alcahes, Opuntia alcahes |
| Geographical Origin | Mexico: Baja California, Baja California Sur |
| Cultivation | A dry, free-draining, gritty, sandy, alkaline substrate is imperative. Water from spring through to autumn then stop watering so no water at all in winter |
| Eventual Height | 1-2m |
| Eventual Spread | 1-2m |
| Hardiness | Keeping it dry in winter is the challenge in the UK. It is very cold tolerant but not with wet roots. Use slabs of rock on a gradient to drain surface water or experiment with rain shelters. Alternatively, keep in a large container and move in winter |
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