Opuntia macrorhiza
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Cactus tuberculatas
- O fusiformis
- O grandiflora
- O leptocarpa
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Plains prickly pear is a member of the cactus family (Cactaceae) that is native to the contiguous US. It has been introduced into the Northeastern and Southern portions of Argentina and the Northern Caucasus. The first part of its scientific name, Opuntia, relates to an ancient Greek town, Opus, where a similar plant could be found growing. Macrorhiza, the second part, is Latin for 'with large roots' and refers to the large, tuberous rhizomes that form the roots of this plant.
This plant is commonly found growing in sandy or rocky, dry or well drained soil. Its stems have been modified into oval or round fleshy pads that store moisture when it is available and provide a reservoir when the area has become very dry. As a defense against animals that would like to get at this moisture, these pads are covered with spines and bristles. Some of the bristles are barbed and can puncture human skin. For some people this can trigger a significant allergic skin reaction.
The form of this plant with the pads growing in any direction can be attractive enough. However, there are flowers during late spring and early summer that are bright yellow with a red/orange center. They are very showy and attract pollinators. In the late summer and autumn the 'pear' becomes ripe and can be eaten as a fruit or made into candies and jams.
This plant can be used as a ground cover, to help anchor sandy or rocky slopes, as a spot plant in a dry garden, in a naturalized area or in a pollinator garden. Provide room for the off-shoots. The pads have a tendency to break off and root which will eventually form a colony.
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:
- Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Parking Lot Berms
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Opuntia
- Species:
- macrorhiza
- Family:
- Cactaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The fruit of prickly pear has been and continues to be eaten fresh and made into candies and jams. The Native Americans also cooked it, and dried it for use throughout the winter. The pads were roasted for a vegetable and the sap was used for medical applications. The spines were used to pierce the ear and also for lancing small skin abcesses. The roasted pads were also used by midwives to lubricate their hands when removing the placenta.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- US and northern Mexico
- Distribution:
- This plant is native to the Western US and Canada but is now found as a garden plant almost anywhere there is dry ground. It has been introduced to the NE and S Argentina and the Northern Caucasus.
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant is visited by the Simius Roadside Skipper, the Uncas Skipper and the Green Skipper butterflies.
- Edibility:
- The fruit is edible raw, cooked or dried. The pads can be roasted to serve as a vegtable. Remove spines and glochids from pads and fruit before eating.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Perennial
- Succulent
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Prostrate
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
- Appendage:
- Spines
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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
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit of this plant is an elongated reddish oval that can be up to four inches long and as wide as an inch. It is fleshy and good to eat. The Rampah Navajo dried it and used it during the winter when fruits were hard to find.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Funnel
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The flowers on this plant are very showy. They are 2-3” in diameter, bright yellow with a red/orange eye. There are 8-12 yellow rays that surround a bushy clump of yellow stamens. They are attractive to pollinators.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Fleshy
- Prickly
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Shape:
- Obovate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves of this plant aren't leaves at all. The pads are modified stems. These dark, dull green stem segments are not easily detached. Their shape is oval to circular and they are usually thick and fleshy. If there has been a drought then the pads become wrinkled as the plant takes advantage of their stored moisture. They are covered with 1-4, inch long spines which grow from an areole. The flattened needle shaped spines are white to a reddish brown color and can stand straight up or spread out from the areole. The spines are turned downward. The pads of this plant are also covered with dense tufts of pale yellow, tan to red-brown, ¼ inch long barbed bristles. These can penetrate the skin and sometimes cause an allergic reaction. These pads can be used to propagate this plant. First, get a pair of leather gardening gloves. In late spring cut a healthy pad from the plant and let it dry for two or three days. Then choose the place where you want the new plant to grow. Holding the pad upright, gently push it into the soil. You may need to wedge it with a few pebbles to keep it upright. You could also just lay it down. In either case, ensure that the cut part is in contact with the soil. Do not water it. Remember it's a cactus and adapted to very dry conditions.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Flattened stems (cladodes, often called pads) that resemble thick leaves. Glochids (minute bristle-like, barbed hairs in clusters) on the stems.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Naturalized Area
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Barrier
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
