I've killed countless plants.
But I don't look back. If I did, I wouldn't be able to stay sane...

I'm Suzuki, and this is my 14th year as a hobby gardener.
This section introduces only plants I have actually grown.

This time, I'd like to introduce "Opuntia Sulphurea Apache," the muscular member of the Opuntia family.

What kind of plant is Opuntia Sulphurea Apache?

Despite being a prickly pear cactus, it has a sturdy build.
It's a muscular guy born in Argentina.
It's highly adaptable to its environment, with its habitat confirmed from lowlands to altitudes of 3,500m.

It doesn't grow very tall, never exceeding 1m in height.
In the wild, it often forms colonies within a 2m diameter.

The shape of its spines varies between individuals, making it one of those cacti you never get tired of looking at.

Heat damage, damage

I was careless, thinking "it's a prickly pear, it'll be fine," but it got sunburned and damaged by the summer heat and sunlight.
If I had watered it properly, the situation might have been different.

I believe it's strong against cold.
The Mendoza province in Argentina, located at an altitude of about 700m, drops below 5℃ during the cold season.
Considering that it inhabits up to 3,500m, I think it can easily survive Japanese winters.
However, I want to be overprotective, so for now, I keep it in an unheated greenhouse during winter.

Not popular

Prickly pear cacti themselves are in the shadows even within the cactus world.
Slightly rare varieties are rarely sold at general garden centers or home centers.
That's because they don't sell if stocked, and there are few growers...

Now that we have the internet, depending on the variety, it's possible to purchase directly from overseas.
I am truly grateful for the power of civilization!

Plant Enthusiast Meter

Finally, I'll give "Opuntia Sulphurea Apache" a score based on my extremely personal opinion.

・Ease of growing: 19 points
Very easy to grow!

・Ease of shaping: 20 points
Hands-off.

・Growth rate: 13 points
Would it grow faster with more fertilizer and water?

・Suitability for Osaka: 19 points
Perhaps only frost is scary!?

・Personal preference: 20 points
Muscular appearance ◎!

 Total score: 91 points

That's all, Editor-in-Chief.

Author: Suzuki