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Opuntia humifusa is often confused with:
Opuntia macrorhiza
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Opuntia Form
Salvia rosmarinus Rosmarinus officinalis
Thymus vulgaris Thymus vulgaris

Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus Opuntia humifusa

Phonetic Spelling
op-UN-shee-a hew-mih-FEW-suh
Description

Eastern prickly pear is a perennial evergreen in the cactus (Cactaceae) family.  This cactus is native to the eastern USA from MA to FL and in scattered areas of the midwest.  The plant can survive winters as far north as Ontario. The Genus name comes from Greek and is actually named for another plant the grew around the town of Opus in Greece. The specific epithet humifusa means prostrate or sprawling in reference to this plant's growth habit.

These plants generally grow in clumps sprawling on the ground up to a foot tall. The flattened segmented stems act as leaves and generally have barbed bristles imbedded in wooly hairs and sometimes long spines on the segments. The oval-to-round segments can be 2-10 inches across. In early spring to early summer, flowers are produced at the ends of the pads. They can be yellow to gold and may have reddish centers. The fruit that follows is a fleshy edible green sphere that ripens to red or purple and persists on the stem giving winter interest. 

This plant needs full sun and is intolerant of shade or wet poorly drained soils. It does well in sandy or rocky soils and on slopes. Grow this plant in pots, in borders, on slopes or dry meadow/prairie sites. it is very salt tolerant. Propagate with cuttings or seeds.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Root rot can occur in poorly drained soils. The bristles can get in the skin and cause irritation.

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti", a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.   

More information on Opuntia.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • var. ammophila
    Grows in FL up to 6 feet tall
var. ammophila
Tags:
#showy flowers#drought tolerant#salt tolerant#slopes#rabbit resistant#summer flowers#deer resistant#spines#edible fruits#rock garden#naturalized area#edible stems#rocky soils tolerant#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#sandy soil#cold tolerant#cotainer
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • var. ammophila
    Grows in FL up to 6 feet tall
var. ammophila
Tags:
#showy flowers#drought tolerant#salt tolerant#slopes#rabbit resistant#summer flowers#deer resistant#spines#edible fruits#rock garden#naturalized area#edible stems#rocky soils tolerant#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#sandy soil#cold tolerant#cotainer
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Opuntia
    Species:
    humifus
    Family:
    Cactaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Eastern and central USA into Ontario
    Distribution:
    AL , AR , CO , CT , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , NE , NJ , NM , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , WI , WV
    Wildlife Value:
    Birds will eat the fruits
    Edibility:
    Fruit is used to make candies and jams. The pads can be eaten raw or cooked. Remove the bristles first.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 2 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Succulent
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Prostrate
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Coarse
    Appendage:
    Spines
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Very Dry
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Fruit Length:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Width:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    Oblong sessile fleshy fruits with concave apices mature from green to red or purple. They are edible and either bland, sour or sweet and may persist on the stem through winter.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Orange
    Red/Burgundy
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Solitary
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Flower Petals:
    7 - 20 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    The yellow flowers are 2-3 inches across and have 8-12 petals with a dense clump of cetral stamens tha can be yellow to reddish.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    The flattened oval-to-round segmented stems act as leaves and are edible but have barbed bristles. May have long spines in the margins
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    The flattened segmented oval-to-round pads also act as leaves and can be 2-10 inches across. They have small barbed bristles embedded in wooly hairs and may have straight spines also.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Container
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Slope/Bank
    Landscape Theme:
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Edible Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Small groups
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Rabbits
    Salt
    Problems:
    Spines/Thorns