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Cactus/Need cacti identification

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Expert: - 8/14/2010


Question

cacti1
Hi there,

I live near Calgary in southern Alberta.  While doing some yard cleaning in our alley, I came across this cacti growing behind our garage.  I have lived here my entire life and have never seen a cacti growing in the wild, or I am looking forward to your response!

Wade Barnes

Answer
Dear Wade,

Well that must have been a fun surprise!  Actually cacti are native to the New World from Canada though Central America and South America and including adjacent islands such as the Caribbean and Galapagos.  Not from Africa as most folks think.  In fact there's only one species of cactus native that that part of the world.

Opuntias are commonly cold hardy and your's looks like an Opuntia polycanthus.  Is there much sun back there?  Anyway, they get beautiful flowers and fruit.  They go dormant in the winter and look dead but pop up again in the spring.  I have a variety of opuntias in my garden in Massachusetts.  They're the best.  Easy to care for, beautiful flowers, drought and cold tolerant.  Who could ask from more?  They're spines are MURDER tho, so be careful.

I believe there is a botanical garden in Calgary that can give you info and I bet there's a cactus and succulent society up there that would be happy to help you out.

I hope you can move yours (with tongs) somewhere where you can enjoy it, tho I'd probably wait till the spring.

Congratulations and if you have any more questions let me know,

Maureen

Maureen

Expertise

I can answer questions regarding the care and propagation of cactus and succulents and would actually group these together as folks often mistake one for the other and often their care is quite different. I also have a cold hardy cactus and succulent garden that has been quite successful. The subject in regard to classification of type is enormous and I wouldn't be able to answer all questions by any means. It is really IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE A PHOTO if at all possible and LET ME KNOW WHERE YOU ARE FROM, especially in terms of climate.

Experience

I have learned by reading books, by trial and error and by consulting with folks with much more knowledge. I have primarily grown C&S for the last 20 years.

Organizations
Cactus and Succulent Society of Massachusetts.

Education/Credentials
No formal training. See experience.

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