Opuntia polyacantha var. polyacantha

Opuntia polyacantha var. polyacantha var. polyacantha

var. polyacantha

Opuntia

Cactaceae

Flowering Plants

Zone 5–9

🐾 Pet-Safe

🌱 Beginner Friendly

Plains prickly pear is an extremely cold-hardy cactus that thrives in full sun and well-draining, sandy or gravelly soil. Water sparingly — only every few weeks in summer and barely at all in winter. Plant it in a rock garden or xeriscape bed where it can spread freely without overwatering.

Care Requirements

Care Level

Low

Sun

Partial Shade

Water

Moderate

Growth Rate

Fast

Mature Height

18″ – 36″

Soil

loam

Life Cycle

Perennial

Spacing

36″

Flowers

yellow

Watering Schedule

Every 3-4 Weeks In Growing Season, Monthly Or Less In Winter • Water Deeply But Infrequently, Allowing Soil To Dry Completely Between Waterings

Soil pH

7 – 8.8

Temperature

-20° – 90°F

Mature Spread

up to 24″

Root Depth

Medium

Foliage

Coarse

Ecology & Origin

Native to

Alberta

Arizona

Colorado

Czechoslovakia

Idaho

Kansas

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Mexico

North Dakota

Oklahoma

Saskatchewan

South Dakota

Texas

Utah

Wyoming

Attracts

🐝 Bees

🐝 Butterflies

Sources

Data: trefle, usda

Hardiness Zones

Check your zone:

Available From (0)

No nurseries currently have this species in stock.