Recommend a hardy, upright succulent please!

I'm going to treat myself to a large (45 or 50 cm) bowl planter and would like to have something upright or big or odd from the world of hardy succulents.

I already have various Semprevivums and Echeverias and some trailing Sedums plus something else trailing I sew this spring (no idea what) so am looking for something contrasting. A big rock would also fit the bill

Opuntia is a possibility, but I'm not totally convinced it would take cold and wet North East winters even though the container would spend the winter under glass table to keep it dry.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

Agaves montana, parryi and utahensis, or aloe striatula. How about a trichocereus or an oreocereus? Or, as you said already, you could get stabby with opuntias. These really should come supplied with a pair of tweezers.
If you want to lose some blood, a number of puya would be my choice

 

Aeonium 'Swarztkopf', every time! Kept just frost free, it survives outside here. Very easy to do from cuttings, so you could keep a couple of 'babies' inside as a precaution.

 

Aloe striatula is the only one I find reliably hardy, even that falls over at around 3feet high.
Opuntias, yes, but the upright tree like ones tend to be tender, and the spines are something else.
The upright columnar cacti that appear to be hardy are not easy to find, I don't think.

 

Thanks, this is very inspiring! I hadn't actually considered true cacti but after googling some they might be worth a try. I had Aeonium but lost it one winter, my fault as I had left it in a deep pot and it was way too wet- or perhaps it flowered itself to death I will get one for sure.

Regarding the cacti, I have various columnar cacti around the house, do you think any look like they might make it outdoors? The Bad Boy Euphorbia will probably not, but what about the seed grown youngsters of unknown variety? The tallest are about 20cm tall, and very vigorous if I give them water. I also have rooted cuttings of Opuntia Microdacys, another small Opuntia and Crassula Gollum, perhaps worth a try?

 

Difficult to say what would be hardy enough outside with a winter rain shelter.
Also depends on how bad the winter is.
I'm sceptical that any of those will survive, but you never know.
I've got a reliably hardy Opuntia that makes a couple of feet tall with some support, I could send you an unrooted cutting if you like.

 

I have had a succulent in the garden for 10 years we are exposed to the elements of the weather .
It is from the puya family has a beautiful yellow torchlike flower 3ft high
It is quick growing and clumps up , though it has a spikey type leaf........But not too bad compared to some

I will gladly send you a rooted peice .

pm me if you would like to try this.

 

@pete @Purple Streaks , thanks, that's really awfully kind of you!

I'm still undecided and doing hard core Googling.

 

Blimey this sounds interesting.

So what is it?
Do you have a picture.

 

Just been out with the torch.Checked the worse for wear label can only make out a few, says 'puya ,as,torchlike ,aloe Sandy soilsAugust.
. Will check out my photos next.

 

I had a Puya, which I planted out last spring.
I looked at it a couple of weeks ago and the whole plant fell to pieces.
The frost had finished it off even though I had covered it.

 

I'm looking for photos today so you will all know what this plant looks like. I.Will also check the photos of a member who posts on here .I've sent a few pieces out to friends,one friend describes it as a triffid !


I first bought the plant from the succulent area in a 3 inch pot , 3 leaves .........

 

I had a puya alpestris I grew from seed (repotting was very painful!). It was left outside all year in Nottinghamshire and grew quite happily and flowered. It died when I forgot to water it one summer, but had stood the winters no problem.