Opuntia vulgaris (Common Prickly Pear Cactus)
Botanical Information
| Family | Cactaceae |
| Genus | Opuntia |
| Species | vulgaris |
| Synonyms | Cactus humifusus (basionym), Opuntia humifusa var. humifusa, Opuntia humifusa subsp. humifusa, Opuntia compressa, Opuntia humifusa |
| Category | Perennials, Tropicals |
| Type | Shrub (evergreen) |
| Origin | The United States of America including Montana, New Mexico, the Florida Keys, Connecticut and New York. |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 4 - 9 |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | Requires cool season protection under glass. |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H3 - H7 |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | -35 - (-1) |
| Temperature (°F) | -30 - 30 |
| Height | 0.3 m |
| Spread | 100 m |
| Growth | Fast |
| Flowering Period | May, June |
Description and Growing Information
| General Description | Low-growing perennial cactus. |
| Cultivation | Needs full sun and very little water. Can be grown in a garden but also does well in a pot. When repotting, the soil must be dry. To repot, knock away old soil from roots, treat any cuts with fungicide, then place in new pot and backfill with potting soil. Do not water for a brief period after repotting to avoid root rot. |
| Notable Specimens | Centennial Conservatory, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Flattened stems that are formed out of segments. Barbed bristles grow on the segment surfaces. |
| Flower Description | Flowers are 6 cm in diameter and grow along the margins of mature segments. |
| Fruit Description | Edible fruits grow up to 5 cm long and remain on the cactus until the next spring. |
| Colour Description | Stems are green. Flowers range from yellow to gold, sometimes with red centres. Ripe fruit are red. |
| Texture Description | Flowers are waxy. Segments are smooth with sharp bristles. |
Photographs
Opuntia vulgaris.
Opuntia vulgaris.
Opuntia vulgaris.