Native Pennsylvania cactus

Share info and Pictures about gardens, parks, nurseries, and other locations with cacti.
User avatar
Zhanna
Posts: 82
Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2008 4:20 pm
Location: Northeastern PA (zone 5b)

Post by Zhanna »

peterb wrote:I found it very challenging growing cacti in Pennsylvania when I was a kid.
Nice story ... I hope I get some flowers too! :) Were you able to grow anything outdoors other than your O. humifusa?
peterb wrote:There are parts of Pennsylvania that are so densely wooded and lush, it's like pioneer times still. World's End State Park, for example. Wild country.


Yes, really anywhere in the north central part of the state is like another world. For some reason I don't get out there very often, but I do love it. It's a great area for hiking. Even just a ride along Route 6 is full of gorgeous mountain scenery. The PA Grand Canyon is also very nice, even though it is nothing like the real Grand Canyon.
User avatar
Zhanna
Posts: 82
Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2008 4:20 pm
Location: Northeastern PA (zone 5b)

Post by Zhanna »

jacob1986 wrote:How's the weather in that part of PA?
Ugh. The weather is one of this area's major downfalls! We tend to have short, cool (but very humid) summers and not a lot of sunshine at any time during the year. We have a lot of "nuisance" snowfalls and a couple major snowstorms a year. I prefer things a bit warmer and sunnier (just like my cacti). For some reason the southeastern part of PA seems to have significantly nicer weather, on average, than we do in the northeast.
daiv
Site Admin
Posts: 23625
Joined: Mon Aug 16, 2004 10:15 pm
Location: Long Prairie, MN
Contact:

Post by daiv »

Zhanna wrote:For some reason the southeastern part of PA seems to have significantly nicer weather, on average, than we do in the northeast.
Could have something to do with that big body of water to the Southeast, or it is just that your that much closer to Detroit! :shock: :lol:
All Cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are Cacti
User avatar
Zhanna
Posts: 82
Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2008 4:20 pm
Location: Northeastern PA (zone 5b)

Post by Zhanna »

He-he! It may also have something to do with the configuration of the mountains. I think I remember reading that the Scranton, PA/Binghamton, NY area is the cloudiest region east of the Rockies. We also get lake effect snow (those "nuisance" storms) that I don't think usually affects the southern part of the state. Let's just say I spend time in Arizona whenever I can!
User avatar
jerrytheplater
Posts: 1143
Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2021 7:38 pm
Location: Bloomingdale, NJ (USDA Zone 6b)
Contact:

Re:

Post by jerrytheplater »

Zhanna wrote: Mon Apr 06, 2009 11:34 am Peterb, I'll keep an eye out when I'm on the A-T. I've hiked all of NJ and most of central and northern PA on the Trail and I haven't noticed any other cacti clumps yet. :)

I'm further north, near Scranton. Bethlehem is a pretty area. And the weather there always seems much sunnier and warmer than up here!

I'm actually looking for another source of this same species. I'd love to see if they would grow in my yard, but taking anything from national park land is a no-no.
I know this is a really old topic, but if you go to Sandy Hook in the Gateway National Recreation Area https://www.nps.gov/gate/planyourvisit/sandy-hook.htm you will see our native Opuntia all over in the dune/beach area. All along the trails. Can't miss it. I've seen it on top of High Mountain in Haledon, NJ. Also at High Point State Park in NJ.
Jerry Smith
Bloomingdale, NJ
45 inches (114 cm) rain equivalent per year, approx. evenly spread per month
2012 USDA Hardiness Zone 6b: -5F to OF (-20C to -18C) min.
User avatar
7george
Posts: 2623
Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2014 7:49 pm
Location: Calgary, Canada
Contact:

Re: Native Pennsylvania cactus

Post by 7george »

Definitely O. humifusa. It is naturalized even in Europe.
If your cacti mess in your job just forget about the job.
°C = (°F - 32)/1.8
Post Reply