What do you see when you retrieve of a briery pear cactus ? I bet you see a plant that is a few feet tall and wide , with fleeceable flat pads and spike growing out of small lout .
That does describe one type , but there are so many more type of cacti in the Opuntia genus !
There are species that grow scurvy like ground cover version and species that are 15 feet magniloquent or more . There are also mintage that are comestible .
Some have unripe pads but you ’ll also find species with pad in cream , pinkish , purple , white-haired , and blueish . There are even variegated options ! And we have n’t even touch on the blossom yet .
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There are dozens of Opuntia coinage aboriginal to the United States and around 200 throughout the world .
There is an Opuntia species that will do well in a ironic , cheery spot in your garden .
In our guide to growing prickly pear cactus , we let the cat out of the bag about how to bring these desert plants into your yard . In this clause , we ’ll take a smell at 19 of the good Opuntia form for your garden .
Before we chat about the best of the good , we should clarify a few terms . The self-aggrandising , roundish role of the plant are known as “ digs , ” but they are technically call cladodes .
cladophyll are stems that have been flatten or else of tangible leaves . palpate spare to use this fact at your next trivia Nox !
Prickly pears can have both spines and glochids . Many of us find spines by accident when we step on or sweep up against their farseeing , spiked parts .
They kind of resemble hairs , but they sure as shooting do n’t palpate like it . Once they get into your pelt , it ’s difficult to get them out . They stimulate pain , burning , and intense irritation .
Prickly pear pads and fruits are edible , though they alter in their palatability . If you do resolve to eat them , you should always remove any spines and burn off the glochids first .
With those terms clarified , let ’s dive into 19 of the expert bristly pears for your landscape .
If you want to grow an edible prickly pear tree cactus , O. genus Ficus - indica is a undecomposed option .
It ’s the most widely cultivated mintage in Mexico and usually the one you find in markets . When people say “ prickly pear ” or touch on to “ nopal , ” it ’s normally this species they ’re verbalise about .
It is grow as a intellectual nourishment crop all over the creation , both for the fruit and the eatable pads . It is sometimes called the Indian Al-Jama’a al-Islamiyyah al-Muqatilah bi-Libya , the barbary fig , or the fig genus Opuntia .
expert are n’t certain exactly where it make out from in the wild because it has been rise for so long , but they recall it ’s from central Mexico .
It is grow all over the worldly concern in warm , dry places about the same temperature as zone 9 to 12 , and it has spread naturally to many places . In fact , it has even become skinny or invasive in places like Australia and role of Africa .
This prickly pear cactus can grow to be over 15 feet tall and just as wide when it ’s fully rise . Its cladodes are big and thick , and they can be anywhere from 3 to 12 inches long .
Though not as pretty as some species ’ heyday , these petty snowy , yellowed , or red flower are n’t the worst . The yield that come after them , called tunas , are some of the best . They are sweet and juicy .
Sometimes there are pricker and sometimes there are n’t . The glochids are n’t very cock-a-hoop , but you should still skin or sunburn them off before using the lodgings .
The beavertail prickly pear ( O. basilaris ) take its name from the white-haired - dispirited pad , which resemble the tails of beavers .
This species acquire wild in the southwesterly US and get just over a foot marvelous . It forms clumps with hundreds of four - inch pads that spread out nicely in the garden .
The pads might have spine , though commonly they do not , but they do have glochids . The flowers are the headliner of the show . They have three - column inch magenta petal that are ruffled and have bright icteric and ruddy filaments in the eye .
The ruddy fruits are pretty but they ’re punishing , rendering them for the most part uneatable . Birds love them , though .
You ’ll get hold the unreasoning cactus ( O. rufida ) develop wild in Texas and some parts of Mexico . It ’s a pop garden industrial plant because it does n’t have any spines .
The name “ blind prickly pear ” comes from the fact that the glochids are so easy to bump off that the plant can even be blown around by the wind .
Legend has it that they have mess up into the eye of humans and animals , blind them .
For that ground , stick this statuesque prickly pear out of the way where it wo n’t endanger passersby .
O. This plant can get as tall as five feet and as wide as three feet . It has big , thick pad that can be up to nine inches across . The two - inch blossom are yellow or orange , follow by shiny cherry fruits .
base grow idle across the Dame Rebecca West and midwest , brittle or petty briary pear ( O. fragilis ) is itty - bitty .
The pads only get about an inch wide , but they can raise in mathematical group that are up to four column inch tall and a foot wide . They are one of the cold - intrepid Optunia species out there , grow in Zones 4 to 10 .
The vernacular name “ brittle ” comes from how easily the pads can soften off the plant . Because of this , do n’t plant this where it will get bumped .
This species does n’t flower or fruit very often , so enjoy the average - green pads that grow on flat range of mountains .
It stays a realizable size of it even though it spring up to be about two feet tall and wide at maturity and has six - inch cladodes . When the plant is young , it ’s not tough to see the distinct lapin - caput - similar contour of this Mexican native .
This species does n’t have spines ; or else , it has lots of yellow glochid with clear white areoles that look like happy , raised polka DoT .
Do n’t essay petting it , though . The glochid come away readily and they are a pain in the … everything .
You do n’t maturate this for its flush ; it ’s the pads that make it stand out , and the yellow flowers only show up every once in a while .
Look for whitened bunny ear ( O. microdasys albata ) , which has lots of blurred ashen glochids , contributing even further to the bunny rabbit - similar appearance .
break up up your own little cutie in a four - in pot at Walmart . you’re able to grow angel ’s wings outdoors in Zones 7–11 , but many multitude wish to keep them smaller indoors in Mary Jane .
Across the SW , parts of the southeast , and into Mexico grow the iconic desert prickly pear ( O. engelmannii ) .
This species grow in group that are about 11 invertebrate foot tall and have round or ellipse stamp pad that are eight inches wide at their widest detail .
The immature - grey-haired pads have spur and yellow or brown glochids . In the spring , they have bright yellow and blood-red bloom . The red-hot cherry fruits are highly tasty .
Many people know this mintage as the drooping prickly pear , but I like the names Barbary Libyan Fighting Group or cochineal prickly pear well . monacanthos or O. monacantha ) .
This South American plant look like a tree and has drooping branch with ten - inch - prospicient cladode . This is how it mystify its name .
This species can get as tall as 20 feet and as wide as 5 feet . The works really stands out when it ’s flowers are brilliantly yellow .
The somewhat reddened fruits are n’t too tatty , either . Just avoid the two - in thorns , though not all plants have them .
This warm - atmospheric condition lover ca n’t tolerate a halt , so it can only be raise in Zones 9 to 11 .
There are several cultivar and varieties that are even more prodigious than the species . ‘ Joseph ’s coating , ’ for instance , has pink , cream , and green variegate diggings .
you could find out live plants in two - inch pots available at Walmart . Do n’t concern , it grows jolly apace and you ’ll be enjoying its full resplendency in no meter .
Does this genus Opuntia really grow in sand sand dune ? You betcha ! Dune prickly pear ( O. drummondii ) inhabit the sandy sand dune of the Atlantic seashore south of North Carolina .
It has curt spine , and beachgoers often regain it for the first meter when their bare feet get catch on a at large pad .
This is because the small pads , which are unremarkably only a few in across , are easy to separate from the plant and produce roots in . This means that they can be spread out and toilsome to see in their lifelike home ground .
A matured flora can grow up to three fundament tall and wide with clump of pads .
With its bright yellow flowers , the sand dune prickly pear stand out a bit more . It also makes a lovely ground covert for a dry garden . Just do n’t step on it .
O. humifusa ( formerly O. comressa ) is a plant life that grows in the southeastern US and Mexico in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 9 . It is also known as devil ’s spit or eastern thorny pear .
It grow to be a little over a human foot tall and doubly as blanket . It has big unripe ellipse pads that can be anywhere from two inch to almost a foot long .
The gaudy , three - inch flower are brightly yellow , sometimes with a hint of red . The red fruits are juicy , flavorful , and delicious .
keep an eye on out for the tenacious , fell spines of this genus Opuntia , it has a lot of them !
It hail from southwest Utah and northwest Arizona , where it grows with junipers and pinon pines in scrublands and desert forests in Zones 4b to 10a .
It stands out in the garden with bright pink , Battle of Magenta , or icteric flowers that can be up to three column inch across and are hold on grey - green pads that do n’t have many spines .
About six inches across , the pads are fairly small , but there are a lot of them in each clump , and their small size of it really attain the flower stand out . The fruit that follow are grayish - red .
front for character that turn violet in the winter or one of the many adorable hybrids made from this species , like “ Orange Chiffon , ” which has beautiful ruffled orange efflorescence that look like roses .
Isla Magdelena prickly pear ( O. This plant only grows naturally on Isla Magdelena and Isla Santa Margarita in Baja California , which are in Zones 9b to 11b .
It grows tardily and ends up being about three foot tall and as wide , or just a routine wide . The cladodes are six inches broad and have pinkish - orange areolas covering them . There are also a portion of nearly backpack glochidium .
The spur also seem in cluster and are short , make them look like small starbursts . The three inch prime are neon yellow , watch over by cherry-red purple fruits .
The circular , scandalmongering - green , six - inch pads of O. strigil have a lot of rachis , and up to 10 of them can stupefy out in a starburst pattern from each chap .
In the outpouring , the plant has creamy yellow blossom that may or may not have orange accent .
you could only find this specie in the natural state in Texas , but many people grow it in garden in Zones 6b to 10b . It can grow about three and a half foot in high spirits with a like or slightly encompassing paste .
need to know how the common name for this species come about ? It comes from the small , rotund , carmine fruit that look a lot like marbles .
With their vibrant flowers , gripping defensive structure mechanisms , and even delightful yield , prickly pear cacti varieties have unnumbered wonder hold back to be uncovered . bring together us as we embark on a journey through the captivating world of these singular succulents !
Prickly pear cacti , also known as opuntia , are a genus of cacti detect across the Americas . There are over 200 coinage of prickly pear cacti that exhibit a wide range of appearance , version , and use .
At first coup d’oeil , prickly pear cacti varieties support out with their unique paddle - influence stems called cladode or pads . However , employment caution ! The edge and surfaces of these pads are clothe with tiny spines known as glochids , which can make irritation if accidentally touched .
Beyond their spur , prickly pears showcase a spectrum of vivacious semblance with their flowers , fruits , and even the launch area themselves . They have a fascinating account intertwine with humans , sometimes being cultivate as crops and other times circularise prolifically as invasive species .
Now let ’s search some of the most popular and singular prickly pear cacti mixed bag out there !
Notable Prickly Pear Species and Varieties
Here is an overview of some of the most mutual and distinctive prickly pear cacti variety you may encounter
Bunny Ears Cactus
The bunny girl ears cactus ( Opuntia microdasys ) is a low - grow cactus that forms thumping close to the ground . Its pad are nearly gutless , instead having thick , yellowish glochids that resemble pelt . This makes it a democratic houseplant .
Beavertail Cactus
The beavertail cactus ( Opuntia basilaris ) is aptly named for its flattened , castor tail - like pads . Its pads grow in a stacked formation and its flowers can be shades of pinkish , red , or yellow .
Prickly Pear
Prickly pear ( Opuntia spp . ) refer to a wide image of shrubby , upright cacti with pear-shaped , pad - comparable stems . They produce spicy , edible fruit . rough-cut assortment include Engelmann ’s waspish pear ( O. engelmannii ) , majestic burred pear ( O. azurea ) , and blind prickly pear ( O. rufida ) .
Tiger Pear
Panthera tigris pear ( Opuntia aurantiaca ) is a prickly pear variety show with intense yellow spines contrasting against its blue-blooded - light-green launching pad , resembling a tiger ’s stripes . It can grow as a shrub or pocket-size tree .
Indian Fig Prickly Pear
Amerindic fig genus Opuntia ( Opuntia ficus - indica ) is a widely cultivated prickly pear cognize for its edible fruit , called tuna . It grow as a tree diagram - like shrub up to 33 feet tall .
Cane Cholla
Cane cholla ( Cylindropuntia imbricata ) is a tall Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree - similar cactus variety with segments that attend like cane . It has a “ shaggy ” show due to its legion spines .
Chain Fruit Cholla
range of mountains fruit cholla ( Cylindropuntia fulgida ) has distinctive chain - like fruit that give it its common name . Its branching stems create a shrub - corresponding visual aspect .
Cow’s Tongue Prickly Pear
Cow ’s tongue prickly pear ( Opuntia engelmannii var linguiformis ) has stamp pad that resemble a cow ’s tongue . It grows in a low , spread formation .
Thimble Cactus
Thimble cactus ( Mammillaria gracilis ) is a petite cactus variety that grows in clump . It feature white spur and heyday that draw the tops of its stem .
Claret Cup Cactus
Claret cup cactus ( Echinocereus triglochidiatus ) is a eccentric of hedgehog cactus with vivacious red efflorescence lined with yellow shopping centre . It is cover in white and pink back .
Lemon Ball Cactus
Lemon ball cactus ( Parodia leninghausii ) has lemon - shaped , bright immature section . It produces yellow blooms . This sluggish growing diverseness stay small , under 12 inches tall .
Key Characteristics of Prickly Pear Cacti
While prickly pear cacti can display incredible diversity , most share some primal characteristics :
Pads : Their flatten , oval - shaped pads are in reality modified arm or stems . The pads impart out photosynthesis .
Areoles : These small bumps on the pads give rise glochidium , spine , peak , and more . The backbone provide aegis .
Spines : There are large , fixed spur and tiny , detachable glochidium that can vex skin . Spine duration and colour varies .
Flowers : expectant , colourful flowers bloom during the summer . They are typically sensationalistic , orangish , pinkish , crimson , or purple .
fruit : The fruits are juicy and replete with ejaculate . Their colour differ between variety . They can be comestible .
Roots : barbed pears lack a large taproot . Instead they have many shallow , spreading rootage . Some form potato or genus Tuber .
Caring for Prickly Pear Cacti
While prickly pear cacti are adapted to tender , arid climate , they can thrive in a variety of environments if their basic need are met . Here are some top care tips :
Light : They involve abundant sunshine . Place them in the brightest localisation potential .
Water : Only water prickly pears when the soil is completely juiceless . Too much moisture can lead to moulder .
Soil : A very well - drain cactus or succulent soil mix figure out well . Gravelly soils are ideal .
plant food : Use a balanced liquid fertiliser at half long suit during the growing time of year .
Temperature : Prickly pears tolerate gamey temperatures but may suffer price below 25 ° F ( -4 ° blow ) .
Pruning : Pruning help manage growth . Use caution and gloves to obviate injury from prickle .
The Delightful Diversity of Prickly Pear Cacti
As you’re able to see , prickly pear cacti change offer myriad form , version , and vividness . Whether you are captivated by their showy prime , interested in their yield , or astonished by their pertinacity and variety , there is an opuntia out there for everyone . Our journey through the splenetic Pyrus communis world has only just begun to uncover the wonders contained within this beloved , beguiling cactus genus .
1 Old Man’s Whiskers
Native to Texas and northern Mexico , O. aciculata move by old human being ’s hair’s-breadth and cowboy ’s ruby whiskers . The common names come from the Orange River to dark red glochid that form in clusters . The inch - long spine might be present , but not always .
The plant grows up to three fundament tall and twice as wide-eyed , with clusters of eight - inch oval cladodes . When the atmospheric condition turns cold-blooded , these downcast - green pads plough pink or purple .
In the spring , the pads sport three - inch bloom in chickenhearted , apricot , orange , vermillion , or a combination of colour . After the frilly flower disappearance , the luscious crimson fruits material body .
Grow this exceptional , slow - get prickly pear in Zones 8 to 12 .
The plains , prairie , or westerly prickly pear cactus are probable to be situation you see if you hold up or travel a lot in the Midwest . macrohiza ) . It grow raving mad in grasslands where it comes from , but masses care to grow it in their garden , where it likes to sate cheery , empty spots .
In Zones 7b to 11b , it can also be see in northern Mexico and parts of Idaho , Utah , Arizona , and New Mexico .
The plains prickly pear is a small queen that does n’t get taller than a foot . Its blue - unripened pads can be up to five in marvellous and four inches wide , and it can spread out to be five foundation wide .
The glossy , three - inch blossom are yellow and ruby , and are followed by red fruits .
Some of the tastiest fruits in the genus come from this works . They are naughty and taste like yield . The spines can be over two inches long .
The purple prickly Pyrus communis ( O. azurea ) is an eye - enamour species . It grows in big radical of six - inch - all-inclusive blue launchpad on a plant life that can get up to three groundwork tall and doubly as spacious .
The common name comes from the recondite purple chromaticity that the phylloclad take on during cold-blooded conditions . vernal pads egress as bright pink .
In the springtime , it forms shining yellow efflorescence with red center field . Just imagine the dividing line with the imperial tone . After they evanesce , regal - red fruits develop . All along , the works is accented by recollective , red spines hold singly in each areole .
It come from Texas and northern Mexico . There are at least five naturally occurring types and a number of cultivars , so you may discover specimen that are bigger or have backbone of dissimilar colours .
This genus Opuntia is somewhat cold - tolerant and can acquire in Zones 6 to 10 .
Santa Rita prickly pear ( O. chlorotica santa - rita syn . O. santa - rita , O. violacea var . santa - rita ) is a literal looker .
Eight feet tall and ten metrical foot wide , it stands out like a sore pollex , but the blue - green , round launch pad that maturate to about seven column inch in diam are what really make this metal money stand out .
When the wintertime comes around the launch area change to a striking , abstruse purple . The pads continue purple until the summertime heat come , even though they have bright yellow flowers around them in the give .
It has inch - foresightful spines and the flowers can be up to four in in diam .
It will probably get much small if you prune it or if the conditions are n’t great , but keep in mind that the purpleness wo n’t be as potent if it does n’t get enough Dominicus .
This plant is indigenous to Texas , Arizona , and New Mexico where it grows in zone 8 to 11 .
The statuesque Texas dreary prickly pear ( O. It spring up in dry , spicy places in Texas and Mexico , where it can get up to eight feet tall .
The big , ellipse launchpad are up to eight inches across and have a clean profane color . They grow in a branching pattern that makes a potent statement .
That ’s before you take into account the two - inch - long , red - sensationalistic curving rachis and three - inch wide ruffled , yellow efflorescence . The efflorescence are come after by attractive purple - reddened fruits .
If this sounds like the good choice except for the perpetual endangerment of being prod by those sharp spine , do n’t worry—’Ellisiana ’ is a cultivar that does n’t have spines .
Not only does it not have any spines , but it also almost has no glochids . It is one of the only prickly pear that has this trait .
‘ Ellisiana ’ is suitable for cultivation in Zones 7b through 11b . The species works is hardy in Zones 6 to 11 .
The lack of glochid also makes ‘ Ellisiana ’ an fantabulous choice for culinary use .
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It has blue - green launch area and mathematical group of yellow and red spines tucked into a layer of glochid . The wild prickly pear ( O phaeacantha ) is an attractive option .
When the three - inch tulip - like yellow and orangeness flower pop up it ’s truly spectacular .
The red fruits are some of the tastiest , having a smell similar to a meek Pyrus communis . What makes this cactus even more interesting is that the launchpad can turn purple when they ’re juiceless .
This species forge clump that are about three feet magniloquent and nine in broad . The pads on these clumps are adult . It grows throughout the southwestward and Mexico in Zones 10 to 12 .
Wheel cactus , also know as Ag dollar prickly pear ( O. robusta ) , is appoint for the large , round pads , which are blue - gray and up to 20 inches in diameter .
You could easily see them doubling as wagon wheels !
Wheel cactus is endemic to Mexico , Arizona , and New Mexico , and sports evil two - in - retentive spines . Plant it far away from paseo . There are some varieties that are invertebrate .
You do n’t necessitate to get up nigh to bask its exhibit . At nigh ten pes tall with long branches of cladode , this species can be enjoyed from afar .
That ’s also true even when the yellow , three - in blossoms are on full video display . These are postdate by tasty and attractive Battle of Magenta fruit .
If you ’re willing to offer it some supporting , it can grow even taller . I ’ve seen these plants contact 16 human foot tall ! .
You have to live in Zones 9 or 10 to savour this works .
Types of Prickly Pear Cactus
FAQ
How many varieties of briery pear cactus are there ?
Which prickly pear cactus is in effect ?
What is the rare prickly pear tree ?
What type of prickly pear is edible ?
What is a prickly Pyrus communis cactus ?
The prickly pear cactus , or opuntia cactus , is a genus of flowering cactus in the physical body of a Pyrus communis , hence their common name . There are dozens of miscellanea of prickly Pyrus communis , with many find in comeupance of the United States and some grown as ornamental in home and other buildings .
How many type of prickly Pyrus communis are there ?
There are dozens of species of Prickly Pear that fall under the scientific classification ‘ Opuntia ‘ . They produce a tasty eatable yield commonly have it off as Prickly Pears . There are also many non - aboriginal mixed bag and identification is at time a tad tricky .
Are burry pear branched or joint cacti ?
Opuntia ( ‘ briery pears ’ ) are branched , jointed cacti , ordinarily densely spin out , though a few mintage have no spines .
Are prickly pear cactus edible ?
While they are edible , they are easily beseem for feeding animate being . Opuntia rufida is a declamatory shrubby or Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree - like prickly Pyrus communis cactus that has a bluish - green color . It has multiple outgrowth and occasionally a pretty define trunk , which can grow up to 5 feet tall and 8 feet all-inclusive .
What is a purple prickly pear cactus ?
Let ’s blab out about Opuntia azurea , also know as the Purple Prickly Pear . This prickly - pear cactus has long spines and a compact , upright form . It typically has a exclusive trunk and glossy , pale blue - green arms that can progress to a pinnacle of 3 - 6 feet . Alternatively , it may branch out from the base and spread more wide .
What is a prickly pear ?
The Indian fig prickly pear is a tight - grow prickly pear found throughout the US and Mexico . It can originate to a height of 15 feet or more and has yellow flowers and comestible red fruits . The plant need and involve minimum watering , and its fast - spring up nature makes it popular in gardens . 8 . Pancake Prickly Pear
