I planted this three years ago and it was about 30cm high so as you can see by the photo it has grown considerably. I want to plant another one but I'm not sure how big it will grow and I don't know what it is. Can someone please identify this for me. Thanks,
i don't know what it is...i have to say it's just beautiful, though!!! have you ever broken it or cut into it? i ask because i want to know if there was any white sap that came out. if there was, then it's in the euphorbia family.
Yes it's quite stunning when you actually see it. Tricky to weed around the base because the thin long horns are super sharp. I use long nose pliers ! I accidently broke a small branch off and potted it. It's growing prolifically and no, no white milk like you get with euphorbias.
Austrocylindropuntia subulata, to be precise. I grow those too, but mine are much less spectacular than that!
Hi Lorax. Thanks for that. I've done a little more research now and have seen some magnificent examples mostly from your "neck of the woods". Evidently they are edible (prickles removed). One chap said that where he was, they were so prolific that they were a problem and was considering burning off the prickles and using them for feed for his stock. This is making me think twice about planting a second one on my little section.
Well, since a lot of things from my neck of the woods grow well in Kiwiland, you may want to take that under serious advisement. Part of the reason they're so prolific here is because they tend to have branches broken off of them by the weather; then the fallen bit roots and pretty soon you have a forest of them. This happens with lots of the species in the Opuntias. Yours looks pretty sheltered, so you might not have the same problem. If you do decide to trim and eat it, it's very good lightly fried in butter with a bit of garlic or onion, as a veggie side dish. I put parmesan on top of mine.
Just been to a garden centre for lunch and saw nothing like my Austrocylindropuntia subulata there. Not even on the menu ! I should propagate and sell them. I'm sure landscapers would love them. When I nave a few more I will try cooking them. I just don't want to break up the symetry/balance of my firt one too much. I have another Cactus I planted from a cutting from the neighbour's which we don't know the name of and this really is stunning especially in flower. I'll start a new thread on it later today. The photos are great. Thanks.
