Perennials, Tropicals > Opuntia > Opuntia vulgaris > Opuntia vulgaris
Opuntia vulgaris
Common Prickly Pear Cactus
Origin: The United States of America including Montana, New Mexico, the Florida Keys, Connecticut and New York.
| Family |
| Cactaceae |
| Genus |
| Opuntia |
| Species |
| vulgaris |
| Category |
| Perennials, Tropicals |
| Type |
| Shrub (evergreen) |
| Synonyms |
| Cactus humifusus (basionym), Opuntia humifusa var. humifusa, Opuntia humifusa subsp. humifusa, Opuntia compressa, Opuntia humifusa |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 4 - 9 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| Requires cool season protection under glass. |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H3 - H7 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| -35 - (-1) |
| Temperature (°F) |
| -30 - 30 |
| Height |
| 0.3 m |
| Spread |
| 100 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| 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. |
| Growth |
| Fast |
| 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. |
| Notable Specimens |
| Centennial Conservatory, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. |
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