Thursday, 19 July 2012

Opuntia alert!!!

Well I keep talking about loving opuntia, seeing unlabelled opuntia, asking for the opuntia fairy to help me choose the right ones etc.  And I found myself meandering through a nursery that I all but gave up on when I came across spikes!  I didn't have my camera - regret - because like I said, I had all but given up.  But I did not let the opportunity to pick up a labelled opuntia pas me by.  Better yet, it was sitting outside with the sempervivums which in my books meant it was the one.

These darn right nasty spikes are what first got my attention....

I have to find the right place for this and I have several ideas.  One of which being right out at the roadside.  It would get mega heat, full sun, and could serve as a warning to all who enter - spiky plants present at this home.  But then again I think of the children who like to play outside on the road.  A bad crash into opuntia would certainly do some damage .... hmmm.

Another part of me thought about breaking off two paddles and making it three!!  But I don't quite have the heart for that.


I was most impressed by this tag action going on.  Only when I got home and googled opuntia petra there were few results.  But one of them directed me to a link that I couldn't for the life of me get to open of opuntia petra growing on Vancouver Island ... good sign.

I'm thinking the best place for this thing is to the left of the yucca gloriosa variegata and behind and in between this yucca 'bright star' and sedum.  It gets full sun, relatively protected, it would be on the hillside with water draining away from the plant and surrounded by yuccas, sedums, agave and an aloe.  That's the plan for now at least.

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9 comments:

  1. Heather/xericstyle19 July 2012 at 11:28

    NICE! It is like you have a little Texas yard in Canada! TOO COOL! Unless that opuntia is a dwarf variety, it is likely gonna get huge planted in the ground. Hard to tell from the picture, you think there is enough room there?
    In a colorful pot like the desert edge would look groovy too!!!!

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    1. Louis19 July 2012 at 11:52

      I love all the spiky/tropical happiness!!! I don't know how fast these grow here. There's a decent amount of space but im unsure. You are right that it could be an epic potted opuntia. I could even place it in the garden there in its pot and then bring it down under cover for winter.... Hmmmm. I like where this is going.

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    2. Heather/xericstyle19 July 2012 at 19:40

      That would look wicked!!!!!!! ...and be practical...you are so excited about it, if you lost it, that would be sad. :(

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  2. outlawgardener19 July 2012 at 13:09

    Great find Louis. One might even say Epic! I'm torn. I love the potted idea but the thought of children learning an important lesson about leaving your plants alone is also appealing.

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    1. Louis19 July 2012 at 15:57

      I was soo excited. It did feel like an epic find. and it wasn't a bad price either which always helps. The siting will be the big question... how have you found opuntia growth in the pnw?

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  3. Beech Street Gardens19 July 2012 at 21:30

    Oh how exciting........I knew it would happen soon. The Opunita you have is Opuntia phaeacantha and will live in a USDA zone 5. I have some pads that I planted a few weeks ago out in thr garden and they are already putting out new pads. Opuntias are very profilic!!!!! The other cool thing is during fall and winter the pads will turn a deep purplish green. Congraulations again on your new plant.

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    1. Louis19 July 2012 at 22:49

      Ohhh deep purplish green sounds soo wonderful!!!! Thanks so much! I'm super excited. They had other ones that I might just have to go back for. They also had a cylindropuntia imbricata that I might go back for. It was really beautiful... but for some reason when I buy them one at a time I tell myself I'm spending less money. At least you don't notice it as much when you look at the bank statement!

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  4. danger garden19 July 2012 at 21:51

    Congrats! I am so happy you've found your first Opuntia, and it looks/sound like a good one. What if you planted it in the ground but broke off just one pad and put it in a container as insurance? Also I wouldn't worry about it getting too big for that spot. First of all we don't have the heat for it to grow that fast and secondly if it did take off crazy like then you could just keep breaking off pads and sticking them in the ground elsewhere ( like where the kids play) and eventually giving them to friends or even start guerrilla Opuntia gardening!....fun!

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    1. Louis19 July 2012 at 22:52

      Thanks!!!! I was soo glad that it was labelled like that and said 'hardy.' That's usually all that I need to buy something cool. Just one nursery person ... one little sign and I'm sold. I think I caught the opuntia bug. I always loved them, but seeing it sitting around the yard it just belongs!! So hopefully this is just the start of good opuntianess to come.

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