WHAT IS A HARDY CACTUS?
Plants in the family Cactaceae are all native to North, Central and South America and some Caribbean islands. There are many species even in the coldest regions of these places. The term hardy is relative to where you live! For a cactus to be hardy in your area, it must be able to withstand the coldest temperatures that occur where you live. For instance, for a cactus to be hardy in Denver, Colorado (zone 5), where I live, they must be able to withstand temperatures to -25 degrees F. (-35 degrees C.). Other things to consider are: the quality and type of soil you have, the amount of precipitation in summer and in winter and how much sunshine you have. If a cactus doesnt get enough cold weather, it will not flower normally in the spring.
