Flower: Open from spring to early summer. They are intensely rose-purple with deep magenta-red filaments and white or pink style, stigma is white. (yellow blooming plant are also known).
Cultivation and propagation: Best in very fast draining mineral soils this plant is very rot prone, needs little water once established, avoid acid soils rich in humus or clayey. Tolerates sand. Keep dry in winter.
Frost Tolerance: Hardy to -5° (or less)
Sun Exposure: They need maximum light exposure in full sun. Avoid shadow.
Warning: Handle with precautions to avoid the prickly glochids, besides the blue pruina that cover the cladodes may be allergenic for same people.
Some of the information in this description has been found at desert-tropicals.com, llifle.com and cactus-art.biz
