So, while hunting yesterday I found a wild growing cactus here in Lincoln county Idaho. I posted it and got an ID. It's a prickly pear!

Now I am interested in starting a cactus garden. Problem is, I am having problems making a decision on cactus for zone 6A.

I basically want something like a tall opuntia or other cactus with edible fruit that can survive zone 6a.

Can someone give me some ideas on species and help me get started?

Jared

Opuntia humifusa is very cold-hardy and super cool.

jnicholes said:So, while hunting yesterday I found a wild growing cactus here in Lincoln county Idaho. I posted it and got an ID. It's a prickly pear!

Now I am interested in starting a cactus garden. Problem is, I am having problems making a decision on cactus for zone 6A.

I basically want something like a tall opuntia or other cactus with edible fruit that can survive zone 6a.

Can someone give me some ideas on species and help me get started?

Jared

Opuntia fragilis, humifusa, some escobaria, that one echinocereus, yucca gloriosa and filamentosa, and a few delospermas.
And a lot of semps and sedums. You cant get ANYTHING tall(save the yucca if you prune it) in zone 6a.
That is just something youll have to understand.

Cylindropuntia imbricata is cold hardy to zone 5 and gets about 6 ft x 6 ft. Pretty big for a cold hardy cactus. Yucca faxoniana grows to 15 ft. hardy to zone 5. There are LOTS of choices - read this website:

https://coldhardycactus.com/

I have gotten most of my cactus here.