Intriguing and rare opuntia plant -- covered with fluffy, soft white spines.
Opuntia is a very large genus of cacti, varying in size from 2 inches tall (5 cm) miniature plants to 100 feet tall (30 m) trees. They are native from Canada, to Chile and Argentina. Opuntias not only have normal spines, but they also have thin barbed spines barely visible, named glochids. These can get stuck in your skin and be very irritating. In some species, they are particularly light and can become airborne when the Opuntia is moved. Wetting the plant before handling it might be good prevention.
Opuntias often have large, colorful flowers. The fruit is also large and generally edible.
In a 10" nursery pot for easier transport and handling, sitting in a 13" light grey fiberstone planter.
