Pereskia bleo
Submitted by Billy Bob on Sun, 2010/08/22 - 09:22.
This is a cactus native to Panama and Colombia. It can occasionally be found growing in gardens and living fences here. The 2 specimens I've seen were 2 m tall, but the literature says they can get much larger.
Pereskia are considered "primitive" cactus that have not yet evolved away from having true leaves, but have other features of cactus. If you see a non-flowering plant like this with odd yellow top-shaped fruit, it is probably this species
They grow easy from seed and ok from tip cuttings.
Shade?
Do they need a lot of sun...they look great and I have just the wall...but gets only 3 hours of direct sun in the shady season when the other wall/roof shades it....about 6 in the sunny season. ZZT
maybe
The one plant I know of is heavily shaded, the other has full morning and midday sun. Both are at 850 meters elevation. I think they could take a fair amount of shade in the rainy season, but would probably be happier with sun.
"In order to really enjoy a dog, one doesn't merely try to train him to be semi-human. The point...is to open oneself to the possibility of becoming partly a dog" --Edward Hoagland
Very nice plant
If I could find space for another large / tall plant, this would be one I'd try.
Thanks for posting.