Growth Habits: The plant grows from an underground tuber. Stem segments: cylindrical, clavate. The tubercles are tinged with purple and are rather prominent. Spines: 8-15 per areole, mostly in distal areoles at the tip of the stem, divergent to deflexed, red-brown or white, going grey with age, somewhat flattened, the woolly areoles white to grey.
Scientific name: Opuntia pulchella
Common names: Dwarf Cholla, Sand Cholla, Sand Club Cholla, Beautiful Cholla
Synonyms: Grusonia pulchella, Coryopuntia pulchella, Micropuntia pulchella, Micropuntia barkleyana, Micropuntia pygmaea, Opuntia pygmaea
Etymology: The generic name "Opuntia" refers to a Greek name used by Pliny for a diverse plant which grew in the region of the town of Opus in Greece. Pulchella refers to the beauty of the flowers
Origin: (Opuntia pulchella): Northern Mojave Desert from eastern California (Deep Springs Valley) to southern Utah and Nevada (Churchill, Douglas, Esmeralda, Lander, Lincoln, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, and Washoe counties) and Arizona. ELEVATIONS : 1100-1900 metres. HABITAT: "Sand Mountain, Sand of dunes, dry-lake borders, river bottoms, washes, valleys, sandy to rocky flats or slopes, and plains in the desert. Mainly on sandy soils but also found in a variable range of soil types "
Light: Full sun
Compost: Typical mix.
Water: Needs little water and good drainage.
Flower: rose to purple; 15-35 mm; filaments green to yellow; style purplish; stigma lobes white to yellowish. Flowering late spring (May-June). Fruits: reddish, smooth and juicy at first later becoming dry.
Min. temp: Fairly hardy, will stand 25f for short periods if dry.
Cultivation: This is not the easiest of plants to grow well. The plant will sometimes appear to be dormant and then suddenly burst into growth. Rooting of the cuttings is generally difficult and has been known to take 2 to 3 years. It is fairly resistant to cold and can stand quite low temperature but cannot stand the humidity. Plants are susceptible to overwatering and extremely rot prone, they have sensitive roots and are usually grafted to overcome this problem. Keep the plants away from places with elevated humidity of the air, needs to grow in a very ventilated and dry environment, in full sun. They need to be kept in a cool (and dry) place during winter rest (at -5 / 10°C) this is important for the flowers as well as for their health. Without this cool winter period they normally wont get many buds.
Observations: If you see this plant for sale buy it you will not regret it. Certainly in England it is very rarely to be found for sale.