Low Prickly Pear Opuntia humifusa
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Cactus humifusus
- Opuntia calcicola
- Opuntia compressa var. humifusa
- Phonetic Spelling
- op-UN-tee-a hew-mih-FEW-suh
- Description
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Eastern prickly pear is a perennial evergreen succulent subshrub in the cactus family (Cactaceae). This cactus is native to the eastern United States and Mexico and is found in dry, sandy, or rocky areas. It is a clump-forming or semi-prostrate cactus with flat, fleshy, green pads that have clusters of reddish-brown barbed bristles. This species measures 6 to 12 inches tall and 1 to 1.5 feet wide. The specific epithet, humifusa, is Latin and means prostrate or sprawling. It references the plant's growth habit.
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. It is very salt and drought-tolerant. The roots are shallow and fibrous. In the wild, the pads can break off easily and will root nearby. It may also be propagated by stem cuttings or seeds.
The flattened segmented stems act as leaves and are flat, fleshy, green pads that are covered with clusters of barbed bristles. The oval-to-round segments can be 2 to 10 inches across. In early spring to early summer, large, waxy flowers are produced at the ends of the pads. They can occur solitary or in small groups and are yellow to gold with 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.
Eastern prickly pear (Opuntia humifusa) and southeastern prickly pear (Opuntia mesacantha) are frequently confused. Opuntia mesacantha has a few, long, pale spines that are up to 1 inch long. Opuntia humifusa does not have spines on its pads. Both species have barbed bristles (glochids) on the pads.
The eastern prickly pear is widespread in the eastern United States. Grow this plant in pots, in borders, rock gardens, on slopes or dry meadow/prairie sites. Use caution when handling this plant because the bristles can get into the skin and cause irritation. Wear protective gloves.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant has no serious insect or disease problems. Root rot can occur in poorly drained soils.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti", a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Ohio'
cold hardy, orange to peach colored flower with a red center, red fruits - var. ammophila
erect, grows in Florida up to 6 feet tall
- 'Ohio'
- 'Ohio', var. ammophila
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Ohio'
cold hardy, orange to peach colored flower with a red center, red fruits - var. ammophila
erect, grows in Florida up to 6 feet tall
- 'Ohio'
- 'Ohio', var. ammophila
- Tags:
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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:
- Native: United States-- AL, CT, DE, DC, KY, MD, MA, MS, NH, NJ, NY, PA, VA, and WV; Mexico Northeast; Introduced: Austria, Bulgaria, Central European Russia, China North-Central, East Himalaya, France, Free State, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Korea, Lebanon-Syria, Lesotho, Netherlands, New South Wales, North Caucasus, Queensland, South Australia, Spain, Switzerland, Transcaucasus, Victoria, Western Australia, and Yugoslavia.
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds and Box Turtles will eat the fruits. Bees are attracted to the flowers.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- 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. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Ground Cover
- Perennial
- Succulent
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Prostrate
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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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
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- 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 in late summer. They are edible and either bland, sour or sweet and may persist on the stem through winter.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- 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 large, waxy, yellow flowers are 2 to 3 inches across and have 8 to 12 petals with a dense clump of central stamens.
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Leaves:
- Hairs Present:
- No
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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 (glochids) embedded in wooly hairs and may have straight spines also.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Edible Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heat
- Rabbits
- Salt
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
