Opuntia microdasys
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- op-UN-shee-a my-kro-DAS-is
- Description
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Bunny Ears Cactus is native to northern Mexico and desert regions stretching into Arizona. This plant will grow 2-3 feet tall and spread 4-6 feet as a mature plant. It needs full sun in the summer months and should be grown in a pot with cactus potting soil to prevent root rot. In the winter months, it requires cooler temperatures of 50-65 degrees F, very little water and partial sun conditions. It may bloom if these conditions are met or it may die if they are not.
It is made up of stem-like pads with numerous yellow glochids that look cottony but contain numerous thin spines. Handle with gloves!. The pads are produced in pairs giving it the bunny ear look. Propagation is done by breaking off one of the pads in spring and rooting in well-drained soil. It rarely blooms with yellow cup-shaped flowers.
This plant is not frost tolerant and must be brought indoors in cooler climate areas. Grow in a container with well-drained potting soil made for cacti or succulents in a pot with many drainage holes.
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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- 'Albata'
White glochids
- 'Albata'
- 'Albata'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Albata'
White glochids
- 'Albata'
- 'Albata'
- Tags:
-
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Opuntia
- Species:
- microdasys
- Family:
- Cactaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mexico
- Edibility:
- Ripe fruit edible raw or in jelly. Pads can be eaten raw or cooked and have a mucilaginous texture. Remove spines and glochids from pads and fruit before eating.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Succulent
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Appendage:
- Spines
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9a, 9b, 10a, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fruit Description:
- red or purple fruit
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Funnel
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Yellow cup-shaped flowers. Occur rarely.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- No leaves.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Stems segments are oval with numerous glochids in the areoles that look cottony but contain numerous thin spines.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Edible Garden
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Problems:
- Spines/Thorns
