Alphabetical Plant Listing

Austrocylindropuntia subulata (Eve's Needle Cactus)

Eve's Needle Cactus, Eve's Needle, Cane Cholla, Eve's Pin, Eve’s Needle Cactus, Eve’s Pin Cactus, Long Spine Cactus, Eve's-Pin Prickleypear, Opuntia subulata


A popular cultivated ornamental, Austrocylindropuntia subulata (Eve's Needle Cactus) can be a succulent, spiny, robust shrub or a small tree with an erect trunk and elongated branches. It can reach a staggering height of 13 ft. (4 m) in its native habitat but is much smaller in cultivation. The glossy green stems are studded with awl-like, curved and fleshy, greenish-yellow leaves, up to 5 in. long (12 cm), which are persistent for one or more seasons. The areoles bear clusters of 8 grayish-white spines or more. Brilliant flowers, up to 2 in. long (5 cm), are borne toward the ends of the branches in mid-spring to mid-summer. The blossoms can be orange, burgundy-red, orange-red, or greenish-yellow, with white bases and yellow stigma. However, it is rare for the Eve's Needle Cactus to bloom in cultivation, and container plants will likely never flower. The flowers are followed by large, egg-shaped, dark green or red fruits, 5 in. long (12 cm), covered with fine, stinging hairs.

  • Grows up to 10-13 ft. tall (3-4 m) in its native environment.
  • Easily grown in well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates afternoon shade. Water in summer and keep dry in winter. Let the soil dry out between waterings. Drought tolerant.
  • Good candidate for desert gardens, rock gardens, succulent gardens or Mediterranean gardens. It can form an impenetrable hedge.
  • Virtually pest and disease free. Deer resistant.
  • Propagate by stem division. Prickly pear pads root easily and grow rapidly when placed in loose, well-draining soil.
  • Handle this plant with extreme caution. The long spines can cause harm to people and animals. Keep it away from walkways and areas frequented by children and animals.
  • Native to Peru and Bolivia.
  • Austrocylindropuntia subulata is regarded as invasive in South Africa, East Africa, Australia and more recently in Europe. It can form dense impenetrable patches and suppress other vegetation.

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Requirements

Hardiness 9 – 11
Plant Type Cactus - Succulents, Shrubs, Trees
Plant Family Opuntia
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 1' – 13' (30cm – 3.9m)
Water Needs Low
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance Deer, Drought, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Hedges and Screens
Garden Styles Gravel and Rock Garden, Mediterranean Garden

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Shutterstock, Clive Nichols

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 9 – 11
Plant Type Cactus - Succulents, Shrubs, Trees
Plant Family Opuntia
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 1' – 13' (30cm – 3.9m)
Water Needs Low
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance Deer, Drought, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Hedges and Screens
Garden Styles Gravel and Rock Garden, Mediterranean Garden

Great Plant Combination Ideas with Opuntia

Guides with Opuntia

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