trefle.io · Taken Jun 12, 2021 by Jennifer MacDonald (cc-by-sa)
Cactaceae
Cliff prickly-pear
Opuntia polyacantha
Also known as Fragile prickly pear, Brittle prickly pear, Rock cactus, Tunas polyacantha
Flowering Plants · Edibles & Herbs · Native Plants · Cactus · Xeriscape · Drought Tolerant · Cold Hardy · Rock Garden · Native Cactus · Edible Fruit · Pollinator · Full Sun · Low Water
Cliff prickly-pear is a cold-hardy native cactus that thrives in full sun and well-drained, even gravelly or sandy soils, making it perfect for xeriscape and rock garden settings. Water very infrequently, allowing the soil to dry completely between waterings, and never allow water to pool around the roots. It produces brilliant yellow flowers in late spring and edible red fruits in late summer, requiring almost no intervention once established.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 8 hours
- Watering
- Water sparingly; allow soil to dry out completely between waterings · Every 14-21 days
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 7–8.8
- Temperature
- -25°F to 95°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
Hardiness
USDA 4b-9b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 4 ft
- Spread
- 3 ft
- Spacing
- 24 in apart
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- Yes
- Foliage
- Coarse
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Alberta, Arizona, California, Colorado, Czechoslovakia, Idaho, Kansas, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Saskatchewan, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wyoming
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies, Birds
Sources: trefle, usda
More Opuntia
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Opuntia polyacantha var. polyacantha
Opuntia polyacantha var. polyacantha
Full Sun · Moderate · Fast
Opuntia polyacantha var. hystricina
Opuntia polyacantha var. hystricina
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Erect prickly-pear
Opuntia stricta
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Indian-fig
Opuntia ficus-indica
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