Tuesday, January 29. 2008
We Get Questions
Q: Can cactus be found growing in Oregon's nature or are the conditions not right? Hopefully you could align me with some hikes but I'm still a bit doubtful it even exists.
Thank You,
Andrew
A: Andrew,
There are several species of Opuntia as well as other genus of Cacti (Pediocactus and others) that grow throughout Eastern Oregon. I have seen Opuntia fragilis as well as a much larger mystery prickly pear (Opuntia polyacantha?) while hiking in the hills south and well east of Salem... but that was about twenty years ago... so other than to tell you it was somewhere way up "Thomas Creek" if my memory is not confusing that hike with where the best rope swing and swimming hole is...
You should check with the Oregon Cactus &Succulent Society:
Meets: Sacred Heart Villa, 3911 SE Milwaukee, Portland, Oregon. 7pm every 3rd Thursday (except December, June, July, and August when meetings, locations, and times will be announced.
They should be able to tell you where to hike to see some of the native cacti.
Good Luck,
Hap
Thank You,
Andrew
A: Andrew,
There are several species of Opuntia as well as other genus of Cacti (Pediocactus and others) that grow throughout Eastern Oregon. I have seen Opuntia fragilis as well as a much larger mystery prickly pear (Opuntia polyacantha?) while hiking in the hills south and well east of Salem... but that was about twenty years ago... so other than to tell you it was somewhere way up "Thomas Creek" if my memory is not confusing that hike with where the best rope swing and swimming hole is...
You should check with the Oregon Cactus &Succulent Society:
Meets: Sacred Heart Villa, 3911 SE Milwaukee, Portland, Oregon. 7pm every 3rd Thursday (except December, June, July, and August when meetings, locations, and times will be announced.
They should be able to tell you where to hike to see some of the native cacti.
Good Luck,
Hap
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As the editor of the "Cactus Chatter", the newsletter of the Oregon Cactus & succulent Society, I should note that the February meeting will be on the 4th Thursday doe to a conflict with a society sale at the Spring Home & Garden Show . We do indeed have occasional field trips to central and Eastern Oregon to view the Pediocactus simpsonii v. robustior. As Hap indicated, there are also Opuntia fragilis and O. polycantha, as well as hybrids of the two.
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