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Blue Spike Cactus

Succulent type: Stem succulent (Stores water in its stem)

This short cactus grows up to 12 feet (3.7 meters) tall. It splits at the base to form 5 wide stems. Each stem is blue, and is covered in hundreds of flexible orange spines.

It is quick growing, taking 2 months to reach maturity. Once mature, a handful of flowers, with petals that are lime in the center, indigo in the middle and pale green at the edges, grow at the top, reappearing once every 3 years. The flower head is shaped like a heart with 12 raised, narrow petals. It has a weak scent that smells like skunk spray.

The cactus's skin is thick, the dark grey flesh is leathery, and the pink sap is thin.

The colour changes depends on whether the soil is acidic or alkaline.
It is suitable for making baskets and the like