The Cholla cactus grows big and bush-like here. There is one growing at the entrance to the Virginia Street nursery that has been there for many years. They are great for large rock gardens and grown as barriers against what ever needs to be barred.

This hardy evergreen perennial covers itself with deep purple buds and new growth, blooming in mid June for days on end.

The resulting fruit clings to the plant, but can be picked off with long tongs, then planted either in the ground or in containers. The branches can also be broken off using long tongs and thick layers of news paper, replanted. Newly transplanted branches are known to flower the very same year. Or you can separate branches just before the blooms are about to open. In fact, they will take just about any abuse when replanting. The thing they don't like is soil that won't drain.