Eve's Needle Cactus Austrocylindropuntia subulata
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Opuntia subulata
- Pereskia subulata
- Phonetic Spelling
- oss-troh-sil-in-droh-POON-tee-uh sub-yoo-LAH-tuh
- Description
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Eve's Needle Cactus is a species of tree cactus native to the Peruvian Andes. The leaves are awl-like and green-yellow and can grow up to 5 inches on a mature plant. It grows up to 13 feet in the native habitat but much smaller in cultivation.
Plant in soil appropriate for cacti and succulents in a clay pot with several drainage holes. Grow outdoors in sun until frost when it must be brought indoors in a sunny location. Reduce watering in the winter.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious pest or disease problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- 'Cristata'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- 'Cristata'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Austrocylindropuntia
- Species:
- subulata
- Family:
- Cactaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Columbia, Peru, and Bolivia
- Distribution:
- Albania, Algeria, Ecuador, Greece, Italy, Kenya, Madagascar, Madeira, Morocco, Northern Provinces, Portugal, Sicily, Spain, and Tunisia
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Houseplant
- Shrub
- Succulent
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
- Appendage:
- Spines
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- The dark green to red fruits are large, 5-inches long, egg-shaped, and have fine hairs.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are up to 2 inches long in blooms of orange, red, orange-red, or greenish-yellow. Container plants typically do not bloom.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Awl-shaped green leaves are up to 5 inches long on mature plants.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Glossy green stems with cylindrical joints. Its stems are covered with bumpy tubercles, with a spined areole at the top of each tubercle.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Dry Soil
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Dogs
- Spines/Thorns
