My brother lives in York, S.C. and I saw a few in a yard about a mile down the road. Sure enought, the man was nice to give me a large nice starter of seval branches. I just planted them up the same day and when I came back the following year to visit, they were over 5 feet tall and full of friut. The needles are not the bad part, it's the very tiny red hairs that is bad. I use welders gloves to handle them and put the paddle over a open flame to remove those red tiny spines. The fruit seems to need sugar to make it tasty. Box turtles love to eat this cactus. If I go down to visit my brother anytime soon I would be glad to get you a few starter paddles. I have the cold hardy ones here. They look almost alike but mine only get a paddle 5 to 8 inches across. I would be happy to send you some of mine here it you want them. Mime bloom yellow water lily like flowers in the spring. My friend is sending me some that bloom pink. How nice.
Stush
