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Opuntia phaeacantha var. salmonea
The plant likes full sun, but can also tolerate partial shade. It is suitable for rock gardens or portable containers.
Water the plant in the pot after the substrate has dried out. Do not water in winter.
The plant is frost-resistant and can withstand temperatures down to -25 °C.
It reliably overwinters in our conditions and quickly forms richly flowering stands in suitable locations. It is cultivated in many different forms and cultivars.
Opuntia phaeacantha var. salmonea is a form of prickly pear cactus native to the United States, occurring mainly in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Missouri. It grows scattered at elevations of approximately 900 to 1,200 m above sea level. The designation var. salmonea is sometimes considered to represent a garden cultivar or hybrid form within the highly variable species Opuntia phaeacantha.
The plant has a prostrate growth habit and produces numerous offsets, gradually forming broad clumps. Individual pads are broadly ovate to almost round, reaching up to about 17 cm in length and around 14 cm in width. The pad surface is matte and light green in colour. Areoles bear yellow-brown glochids of uneven length, while younger pads usually carry fewer and shorter spines. The spines are initially reddish-brown to dark brown with lighter tips and gradually turn grey with age.
The flowers are pale yellow and appear along the edges of mature pads during the growing season.
Opuntia phaeacantha var. salmonea is among the most cold-hardy opuntias and can tolerate temperatures well below −25 °C. It requires a sunny position and a very well-drained substrate where moisture does not remain for long periods. Thanks to its high frost resistance, it is an excellent choice for growers looking for a reliable outdoor prickly pear to include in a collection of hardy cacti.