Do you know what species it is? I found some naturally occuring eastern prickly pear that I transplanted and I'm growing. There was a really big cluster of them growing between two rocks at the end of our community drive way but my neighbor, who owns that area, dug them up and got rid of them and planted some daffodils. I like the cacti better... Anyways, I took a piece long before this but I wish I knew what she was going to do b/c I'd have a nice patch right now.

Hi, I'm in Pennsylvania. If you're just getting started, the first cold hardy cactus I would recommend to you would be "Eastern Prickly Pear" that's native to the East Coast. It's usually listed as Opuntia humifusa. I have also seen it listed (more than once) as Opuntia compressa - but I believe that is incorrect as I "think" O. compressa is a synonym for the Prickly Pear of grocery store comerce (I E. Prickly Pear may be edible (I've not tried), but it's fruit is small). To give an example of its durability - I planted a cactus garden on part of a southern facing road cut on my parent's property. It's been effectively abandoned since I moved away over 7 years ago. This spring I went to check it out. - the O. humifusa was the only cactus or succulent still there and it was thriving. It won't get more than about a foot tall, and will tend to make more of a mound than an upright plant. It's not my favorite Opuntia as I don't like the reddish center to its yellow flowers. It doesn't have a lot of big spines, but boy does it have glochids (small almost invisible needles that don't hurt initially, but keep on giving)! On hardiness ratings. Cacti are often rated on their hardiness by temperature. There are a number of cacti hardy to quite low temperatures. However many of them cannot handle cold and *wet* conditions. Another cacti to consider: Opuntia polyacantha Two sites: Mesa Garden: http://www.mesagarden.com/index.html - not the most elaborate site - plants small - but inventory selection huge, good prices, and a good company to deal with. http://www.oikostreecrops.com/store/prodtype.asp?PT_ID=79&strPageHistory=cat Only 3 cacti from this site, but they're raised in Michigan , so quite hardy. Good luck, Chris P.S. Checked out your slideshow - Beautiful tropical type plantings.

I'll be happy to answer that question for you hopefulauthor since I grow and sell the cuttings and seeds and care for them on a daily basis. A Prickly Pear cutting will root from any side touching soil but it's best to plant the wound in the ground since it's already focusing on the part of it. Prickly Pears or Optunias are extremely hardy and are able to live anywhere from Mexico to parts of Canada but as long as they're properly watched and cared for when temps fall to drastic levels. Cold Wind, Frost, and snow will damage the plants but the plants are so hardy 9/10 they come right back once the temp goes up some or they are being kept warm and protected. I suggest getting a cutting that has been grown and cared for in temps and weather similar to yours to make things a lot easier for you in the beginning. If you live in zone 8 like myself, it would basically be a just plant it and forget ordeal and would require little to no watering since once the cacti establish their roots they can survive off adequate rainfall alone. A cutting and/or plant as it grows will bloom and flower and show new growth but in order to get fruit the plant has to be up to around 10 lbs but I've been able to produce fruit off a cutting about a month after rooting it but it's never guaranteed. On growing the cacti tall, that requires trimming and ties and pvc pipes or anything heavy enough to hold the plant in place as it grows in the way you are trying to manipulate it too. The attached picture is a cutting I sold 2 weeks ago to a guy in Virginia and he sent me back a update pic of the growth and says it is growing by the day as if it was a weed.

Sharon, I got that collection last year. All rooted well. Unfortunately not all survived. 3 Fragilis and 2 of the 3 polyacantha wintered okay (I don't know what happened with the 3rd one, it's right next to the other 2 which are okay so I'm not gonna chalk that up to winterkill). They're not blooming, but they are forming new pads. I think I'm going to make another couple hypertufa and move mine, as well. Ouch, they really hurt when you touch one by mistake (like I just did out there looking for a blasted marker). Of the other two, they just never popped back up after winter - just stayed withered and eventually dried up. I am chalking those 2 up to winter kill.