Hardy Cacti

Cold and Drought Tolerant Cactus Plants

Hardy cactus in full bloom

The hardy cacti that grow in Alberta and the Chilcotin area of British Columbia thrive in the dry cold desert conditions. They are perfectly adapted to survive in alkaline poor soils, with sporadic rainfall.

Mulched with gravel chips or other pebble mulch in a desert display and accented with larger specimen stones or driftwood they are unmatched for providing that special focal point.

Opuntia with flower buds

The Opuntia fragilis of the Chilcotin bloom only when conditions are exactly right – heavy rainfall after a prolonged dry spring will trigger an explosion of lemon or chartreuse tissue paper like flowers to emerge – impossibly fragile looking – to attract many pollinators.

Hardy cactus Opuntia compressa

This hardy cactus is named for its tendency to be loosely attached, so pieces will stick to an animal’s fur coat as it passes, and roll off in time to form new colonies where they drop. There is even evidence of the propagules floating down rivers in spring flood to eventually beach themselves and form new groups on the rivers edge.

Other hardy cacti bloom in bright pink, orange, white or gold.

Imagine when this plant finally blooms – each pad has many buds emerging at the same time, so the plant itself will be totally covered.

Hardy cactus

Combining these weird and wonderful plants with other hardy succulents such as Sedum and Sempervivum which thrive in similar conditions enhances the textures and colours of the xeric garden, taking it to a whole new level.

Luckily, hardy cacti thrive on benign neglect and poor soils as long as the drainage is perfect, making them an ideal companion for other drought smart plants in xeric gardens.

go to Drought Smart Plants home page

Xeric Gardens