Opuntia basilaris subsp. brachyclada | Sacred Beaver Tail
€10,60
🌱 Morphology
Stunningly beautiful! A small, low-growing, and spreading opuntia that forms compact clusters through numerous short segments. The cladodes are oblong to narrowly spatulate, somewhat flattened but thicker than those of other forms of O. basilaris, approximately 5–13 × 1.5–5 cm. They feature a grayish-green to bluish epidermis and relatively large, widely spaced circular areoles, arranged in only 4–6 diagonal rows across the central part of the segment. It is practically spineless, although it develops abundant glochids. The fruits are also unarmed.
🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
Endemic to California, especially the Transverse Ranges in the southern part of the state, where it is found on chaparral slopes and oak and pine woodlands, at approximately 1,200 to 1,800 m in altitude. It is an entity with a very restricted distribution and is of conservation interest. It belongs to the Cactaceae family, Opuntioideae subfamily, and Opuntieae tribe. Opuntia brachyclada Griffiths is the basionym.
❄️ Temperature · USDA Zone 8a–11b
It tolerates minimum temperatures of approximately −12 ºC in dry, well-acclimated specimens. Resistance may be higher in established specimens that are kept completely dry during winter, but in cultivation, the combination of intense cold and persistent moisture should be avoided.
☀️ Lighting
It requires very bright exposure, preferably in full sun. High radiation promotes the formation of compact segments and the characteristic bluish-gray coloration of the plant. As a general guideline during active growth, a DLI PAR of 20–30 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ is recommended.
💧 Growth cycle and watering
Winter dormancy. During winter, it is kept practically dry, minimizing watering as temperatures drop. In spring, with the rise in temperature and light levels, it is resumed progressively. During active growth, it should be watered abundantly but infrequently, allowing the substrate to dry completely before the next watering.
🌸 Flowering
It blooms mainly in spring, especially during May. The flowers are large and showy, in shades of pink, magenta, or pinkish-purple, and appear on the upper segments. The fruits are small, dry upon ripening, and spineless.
🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, a fertilizer with a high content of assimilable calcium and low nitrogen levels, such as Desert CHOICE® Cacti, is recommended, applied once a month when watering. Before flowering, it can be supplemented with Desert CHOICE® Flowering.
This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a high-tech square pot with substrate activated by mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.
S -> 9cm x 9cm
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