Austrocylindropuntia verschaffeltii
Young plants of this unusual cactus show off a bumpy, lumpy texture and bright purple leaves on the new growth. As they age, they’ll branch into small thickets of twisting, jointed stems and take on more of the signature sprawling form. Grows well in a pot and can get woody over time. This species has a bit of a cult following thanks to its weird shape and unique personality—like a mutant opuntia with a better attitude.
Native to high-elevation areas of Argentina and Bolivia, Austrocylindropuntia verschaffeltii can handle more chill than you'd expect from a cactus, though it still prefers protection from hard frost. Spines are fairly soft when young but get more rigid with age, and the knobby segments detach easily—propagation is simple if you want to bulk it up. Given bright light and a dry rest in winter, it’ll sometimes produce small orange or red flowers, though it’s more about the form than the bloom.
This is a fun one to watch grow. Starts subtle and turns into a real character.
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