Opuntia whipplei

Opuntia whipplei, commonly known as Dwarf Silver Sheen Cholla. Most Cholla cactus are pretty vicious cookies, with their armor of spines that “just won’t let go”. Nonetheless, people are fascinated by their shrublike structure in the landscape. This variety has dense spines that are beautiful silver in color, and when backlit by the sun, or other lighting, glisten with a brilliant silvery aura that is an everyday show – morning or evening. In the spring, usually around April or May, the plant explodes in masses of beautiful yellow-chartruese flowers on top of the silver mounds! A nice compact shrub achieving 1.5 feet to 2 feet high and sometimes up to 3 feet wide. Oh yeah, respect the spines- but love the beauty. This is one of the truly winter hardy cactus, tolerating cold down to zero or less. Full to hot sun.