This upright dull green cactus has jointed segments to 300 mm (1 ft) long with tubercles and forms a straggly habit. It has numerous pinkish or brown spines and diurnal pale yellow cup-shaped flowers appear in summer.

Hardiness zones 5 to 11

Opuntia whippleiis naturally found in North America from southern Utah to western Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona growing on dry rocky slopes and in grasslands.

It prefers a well-drained moderately fertile sandy-stony soil with a pH 6-7, in an open sunny position and is frost and drought tolerant.

Whipple's Cholla Is grown for its branched habit and flowers. It is planted in small or arid gardens and used in rockeries or as a potted specimen in cactus collections. It is suitable for inland and low-mountain regions, establishing in 3-4 years and is moderately long lived. It is tolerant of cold conditions but must not be kept wet, particularly during winter.ID 3088

Opuntia(o-PUN-tee-ah) whipplei(WIPPLE-eye)

Cactaceae(kak-TAY-see-ee)