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- Cylindropuntia whipplei
Cylindropuntia whipplei
The plant likes full sun.
Always water the pot after the substrate has dried out. When placed in a rock garden, water at your discretion.
The plant is frost-resistant and can withstand temperatures down to -12 °C.
It likes well-drained soil, similar to that in which it grows naturally – sandy or gravelly.
Cylindropuntia whipplei, also known as Whipple Cholla, bears its species name in honor of Amiel Weeks Whipple (1817–1863), an American military officer and topographical engineer. This cactus is native to the southwestern United States. It grows in desert grasslands, juniper woodlands, and oak and pine forests, typically at elevations between 900 and 2300 meters.
This cactus has green to sometimes purplish-green cylindrical stem segments that are firmly attached. Individual segments can reach up to about 15 cm in length and approximately 2.2 cm in diameter. The areoles carry clusters of white spines, with each areole usually bearing 3 to 8 strong spines that can be up to 5 cm long. The plant typically forms an upright, densely branched shrub with many stems arising from a woody central trunk and can grow to a height of around 1.5 m.
The flowers are yellow to greenish yellow, about 3 cm in diameter, and appear from late spring to early summer. After flowering, fruits may develop, which are traditionally consumed in the plant’s native range, either raw or cooked.
Cylindropuntia whipplei requires excellent drainage and a well-drained substrate. It should not be watered during winter. The plant can be grown in containers or in rock gardens, where its natural shrubby habit and prominent spines are well displayed.