Winter hardy varieties for Central European gardens

These cacti survive freezing temperatures - a selection

In order to discover frost-resistant cacti, we focus on areas of distribution with comparable weather conditions in winter. In South America these are mainly the Andes. In the North American mountains as well as in Canada, hardy cactus species have also settled. The focus is on the following 3 cactus genera and their types:

Opuntia (prickly pear)

• Opuntia fragilis 'Frankfurt': small, yellow flowers, hardy to - 20 degrees Celsius
• Opuntia hystricina 'Hagen': medium-sized, purple flowers, hardy to -32 degrees Celsius
• Opuntia macrorhiza 'Apricot': medium-sized, apricot-colored flowers, hardy to - 22 degrees Celsius
• Opuntia engelmannii: 50 to 100 cm tall, yellow flowers, hardy to - 22 degrees Celsius
• Cylindropuntia imbricata: 100 to 200 cm tall, richly branching, purple flowers, hardy to - 25 degrees Celsius

Echinocereus (hedgehog column cactus)

• Echinocereus baileyi: small, light purple flowers, hardy to -32 degrees Celsius
• Echinocereusreichenbachii 'Atascosa': medium-sized, pink flowers, hardy to -32 degrees Celsius
• Echinocereus triglochidiatus ssp. mojavensis: richly branched at the base, cherry-red flowers, hardy to -32 degrees Celsius

Escorbaria (ball cactus)

• Escobaria tuberculosa: 5 cm in diameter,
• Escobaria vivipara forma: 5-6 cm in diameter, purple flowers, hardy to - 25 degrees Celsius
• Escobaria vivipara v. neomexicana: 4-5 cm in diameter, purple-pink flowers, hardy to - 15 degrees Celsius

Look out for it frost-proof Rarities, the genus Gymnocalycium (hump cactus) is the focus of interest. Among the more than 50 species there are about 7 to 10 pieces of winter hardy jewelry. With a height of 10 to 20 cm, bizarre shaped, tuberous ribs, these cacti inspire in May and June with a beautiful, yellow bloom. In winter up to - 32 degrees Celsius are tolerated.

Tips for wintering

In the Central European field, permanent winter wetness is the biggest problem for your prickly survivors. If the location is not under a canopy, you can solve the problem with a superstructure as a rain shelter. Translucent Greenhouse film(€ 15.74 at Amazon *) or Plexiglas panes keep snow and rain away. Two open sides ensure vital air circulation.

As part of the preparation for the rigors of winter time, please reduce the water supply from August and completely stop it from September. fertilizer The outdoor cacti will also no longer be preserved from August onwards. If the plants shrivel up over the course of winter, this process is part of the ingenious survival strategy of frost-hardy cacti.