This year is amazing, but every year seems to produce a spectacular display of wine-purple flowers. No fuss and you get a beautiful cactus with tips covered in blooms. The branches are spectacular, too. Classic Cholla. The fruit clings in yellow with green. Pick them off for various uses, including propagation. Plant this cactus in a well drained, southern slope with the intent of full direct sunlight. It will be bush size a few seasons from now. Truly Xeric.

In the southwest, cholla skeletons are used to make lamps, picture frames and other items. The cholla in the Mojave Desert is called "Jumping Cholla" or "Hitchhike Cactus" because the stems so easily dislodge themselves from the host, migrating on the backs of fur or wool bearing animals. The stems of this particular Cylindropuntia don't break off so easily.

This evergreen cactus adds winter interest to your rock garden. It can be grown as a barrier plant. It's also one of the last cactus blooms in our area, extending the cactus blooming season into the last days of June.