I am thrilled that it finally bloomed after 5 years, it is so pretty.
It started with just two pads and look at it now.

Very pretty bloom! I'm guessing it is a native, spineless cactus? It reminds me of prickly pear cactus that grows around here. I think they are beautiful.

Yes, it is http://wildflower.org/plants/r...
I wish it bloomed more.

Maybe it will bloom more as it matures. The flowers don't last long enough though.

Just one day!! I guess it is true what they say, beauty is fleeting.

Beautiful ..and I must say spineless is the way to go, didn't even know there was such a thing.
I wonder if this is the kind they eat?

Yes it is, but actually people eat both kinds, although I would much prefer the spineless kind.

Glad you got a bloom. I had to wait 7 years to get my Paw Paw trees to bloom and fruit.

Oh my Goodness!! we gardeners are a patient group, aren't we?
I have a little Paw Paw also, we shall see how long it takes, but then a lot of the fun is in the anticipation

I apologize for this, but every time I read the title of this thread I am reminded of spineless as in "You spineless, lily-livered varmint!". Yes, the spineless type tastes better, but I sure wish they had a better common name.

Is it the pads that taste better on the spineless? or is the fruit (prickly pear)? I know both parts are edible.

On top of all that, it sure is a lot nicer to handle them, if they are spineless. The fruit from my cactus was very small and it didn't mature.
I remember when I was a kid in Spain, they sold the fruits at the market where they peeled them for you and you could it them right there,

There were delicious!!

I was reading this article about the spineless cactus http://aggie-horticulture.tamu...
and it says that the optunias were once all spineless. Now they are cultivating them to an improved spineless with excellent production of improved fruits.

Hmmm.

That is an excellent article Christine, thank you for posting.

Beautiful bloom! Congrats!