Altman Plants distributes this monstrose for as Opuntia monacantha (vulgaris) cv. Maverick. Your plant is also variegated.

Avoid the little pink glochids. they may be 'cute', but are extremely annoying.

Opuntia micordasys information at Desert Tropicals

Brad

Yes. I know about glochids. When I was alot younger I had a couple and they were very top heavy and I kept knocking them over and like a genius, I'd catch them...by the plant...so I had glochids stuck in my hands for the longest time...very uncomfortable...but I've never had any fly away on me. I think it's been like 8 years since my last Opuntia for that reason.

Thanks for the info. This one's not top heavy so hopefully I won't have the same issues I did with the others. And it looked so cool I just had to have it!

I got one of these around 5 or 6 years ago in one of those group plantings you buy at places like Home Depot. I think it's my tallest plant now at 32". I'm not sure how big they're capable of getting, but mine seems to have slowed down in the last year or two.

{{gwi:640965}}

BG,

If you're going to collect Opuntias (a worthy and under-appreciated endeavor) you will wish to be prepared when you get glochided. One of those suggestions is to wet down Opuntias before you work with them, and have white glue/duct tape around when you do get these little monsters.