Opuntia rubescens ‘Consolea’

Description

Opuntia consolea is a wonderfully whacky Opuntia otherwise known as ‘Road Kill Cactus’ owing to the large flat, thin pads.  It is a little different to what you might see on the side of the A24 but an entertaining name nonetheless!  Opuntia consolea will ultimately grow into a large shrub and you can expect beautiful yellow-orange flowers during the summer months; if you’re lucky, the flowers will be followed by red fruits.  Flowering is most likely if the plant is grown in a hot conservatory/position. 

As you may expect, Opuntia consolea is not completely hardy, tolerating temperatures down to around -3, however it is idea for container growing and may be kept outside positioned in full sun during the warmer months.  The pads are covered in small glochids (spines) which are a little uncomfortable so be careful when handling.  

Be careful also not to over water, Opuntia require very little attention, just the occasional drink during hot spells.