In The Winter Hardy Garden

Cylindropuntia imbricata  (Cane Cholla)

June is the premier month for the cacti in the winter hardy beds to flower.  Today the chollas broke loose with their annual flower display.  I like the cane chollas because they are distinctly upright, giving the beds some height, and you can get in and remove weeds around the base, something that's almost impossible with the pad type opuntias. 

Cylindropuntia imbricata is perfectly winter hardy here in Maryland.  The plant in the photo has been in the bed for
over 12 years, and has flowered each year for the past 7 years. The only thing I have to watch out for is heavy wet snow, which can break the branches. 

The flowers are very attractive, large (about 6 cm in diameter), and on average last about 7 to 10 days.  It's nice to have a touch of the desert Southwest here in Southern Maryland.