Originary from Argentina, Opuntia quimilo is a much branched shrub or treelike cactus with distinct trunks up to 30 cm in diameter, reaching a height and a diameter of 4 metres. It has a distinctive Very long spines absent on the young segments, appearing sporadically on the older segments, usually 1, sometimes 2 or 3 from an areole,
Flowers: Shiny carmine or red, 5-7 cm long and 35-50 mm in diameter.
Opuntia quimilo is a low maintenance plant that tolerate considerable neglect and will naturalize. Easy to cultivate outdoor in warm dry climates.
Growth rate: it is a relatively fast growing species that can form large clumps just in a few year.
Watering Needs: Must be kept fairly dry in winter but likes a reasonable supply of water in the growing season, but do not overwater and allow to dry fully before watering again.
Sun Exposure: Full sun.
Hardiness: hardy to -5° C or less for short periods. Outdoors this plant is very adaptable, as long as you avoid excessive humidity in the winter months (in good drained soils).
Garden uses: Excellent as landscape or patio plant. It is suitable for "desert" or "Mediterranean" gardens, in association with other xerophytes.
Some of the information in this description has been found at desert-tropicals.com, llifle.com and cactus-art.biz
| Blooming Season | Late Spring/Early Summer |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Common prickly pear |
| Dormancy | Winter |
| Family | Cactaceae |
| Flower | red |
| Frost Tolerance | -5° C |
| Growth Rate | Fast growth |
| Hardiness Zone | 9a to 11 |
| Height | 12 cm |
| Origin | Northwestern |
| Scientific Name | Opuntia quimilo pad cutting |
| Shape | Enlongated |
| Sun Exposure | Partial sun |
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United StatesGreat gift
I purchased this as a gift for a friend, who now routinely sends me progress pictures because the cactus is growing so quickly.