Copper Spine Cactus

This modest-sized cactus grows up to 34 feet (10.4 meters) tall. The very thin stem is copper, and is covered in hundreds of flexible deep purple spines.

It is slow growing, taking 5 years to reach maturity. Once mature, a handful of flowers, with petals that are silver on the underside and magenta on the top, grow at the top, reappearing once every 5 years. The flower head is shaped like a sphere made up of many raised, round-tipped petals. It has no scent.

The cactus's skin is extremely thick, the red flesh is rubbery, and the lilac sap is thin.