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Opuntia humifusa
Prickly Pear (Devil's Tongue, Compressed Cactus)
A winter hardy cactus with waxy, yellow blooms lasting one day and producing small, prickly, red fruit. The flat, fleshy, blue-green to green pads are covered in finely barbed bristles.
- » AKA Opuntia compressa, Opuntia rafinesquei
- » Waxy yellow flowers grow singularly or in small clusters along the top edge of the cactus pad
- » Blooms last one day
- » Edible, small oval bristly red fruit follow the flower and turn yellow when ripe
- » Flat fleshy oval pads are covered in fine barbed bristles
- » Each pad is about 25 cm long, 15 cm wide and 3 cm thick
- » Old pads are bluish-green and new growth is mid-green
- » Evergreen and very drought-tolerant
- » Bloom Time: May to July
9cm Potted
$12.78
1gal
$21.88
1 Litre
$24.33
- Category:Perennials
- Hardiness Zone:3
- Height:20-30 cm
- Spread:75-90 cm
- Bloom Color: Yellow
Exposure
| • | Full Sun |
Growth Rate
| • | Slow |
Attributes
| • | Native to Ontario |
| • | Drought Tolerant |
| • | Evergreen |
| • | Fruit |
| • | Heat Tolerant |
| • | Salt Tolerant |
| • | Low Maintenance |
| • | Xeriscape |
Landscape uses
| • | Border/edging |
| • | Ground cover |
| • | Naturalizing |
| • | Roadside planting |
| • | Rock garden |
| • | Rooftop (extensive) |
Planting instructions
| • | Container Plants |
Additional Information about Opuntia humifusa
Growing & Maintenance Tips for Opuntia humifusa
Thrives in at least a half day of sun in dry, sandy or rocky soils. Loamy soils are tolerated if well-drained. Can be found in sandy woodlands, prairies, rocky bluffs, sand dunes, and gravelly areas along railroads.