Polka Dot Cactus Opuntia microdasys
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Cactus microdasys
- Opuntia microdasys subvar. albiflora
- Opuntia microdasys var. albispina
- Opuntia microdasys var. pallida
- Opuntia pulvinata
- Phonetic Spelling
- oh-POON-tee-ah my-kro-DAS-is
- Description
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Bunny ears cactus is native to northern Mexico and desert regions stretching into Arizona and is popular as a decorative houseplant. It is a member of the cactus family (Cactaceae). This perennial succulent forms low clumps with a creeping habit to nearly erect with many branches. Its small pad-like stems are flat and segmented and do not have spines but have golden-yellow or white glochids or bristles. This plant is slow-growing and will reach 2 to 3 feet tall and spread 4 to 5 feet as a mature plant. The epithet is compounded from the Greek meaning "very small, shaggy hairs."
The bunny ears cactus requires full sun to partial shade and should be grown in a fast-draining cactus potting mix to prevent root rot. It is best to let the soil completely dry out between waterings. This plant prefers dry and low humid conditions. In the winter months, it requires cooler temperatures of 50-65 degrees Fahrenheit, very little water and partial sun conditions. It is not frost tolerant and must be brought indoors in cooler climate areas. Propagation is done by breaking off one of the pads in spring and rooting in well-drained soil.
Bunny ears cactus is made up of fleshy, flat, segmented, oval to round (6 inches in diameter), light to medium green stem-like pads and spotted with white areoles that have white, yellow, or reddish-brown bristle (glochids). The bristles are very thin, barbed, and will detach with the slightest touch. New pads form at the stem tips and are produced in pairs giving it the bunny ear appearance. Its flowers bloom in the spring and are bowl-shaped and creamy yellow and about 2 inches long. Unfortunately, this plant rarely blooms indoors. After the flowers fade, edible, red to reddish-purple fruits ripen during the summer.
Consider using the bunny ears cactus in a rock garden, as a ground cover, or accent plant. It is fast spreading, and its growth can be controlled by using it as a container plant. Wear protective gloves when handling this plant.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Monitor for mealybugs and scale insects. Overwatering and poor drainage can cause root rot or stem rot.
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 Garden: Parking Lot Berms
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Albata'
short white glochids, pale yellow flowers - cv. Caress
not prickly - Opuntia microdasys f. cristata (Funny Bunny)
bright golden yellow glochids with twisted pads
- 'Albata'
- 'Albata', cv. Caress, Opuntia microdasys f. cristata (Funny Bunny)
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Albata'
short white glochids, pale yellow flowers - cv. Caress
not prickly - Opuntia microdasys f. cristata (Funny Bunny)
bright golden yellow glochids with twisted pads
- 'Albata'
- 'Albata', cv. Caress, Opuntia microdasys f. cristata (Funny Bunny)
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Opuntia
- Species:
- microdasys
- Family:
- Cactaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mexico
- Distribution:
- Native: Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southwest. Introduced: Algeria, Canary Islands, Cape Provinces, France, Free State, Greece, India, Italy, New South Wales, North Caucasus, Northern Provines, Portugal, Queensland, South Australia, Spain, Tunisia, Victoria, Western Australia, and the United States--AZ
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Edible fruit
- 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. - 5 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Houseplant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Succulent
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Erect
- Prostrate
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
- Appendage:
- Spines
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9a, 9b, 10a, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Red to reddish-purple berry fruit is produced in the summer from June to August. The fruit is green when immature, and red when ripens. It is juicy. globular, and 1-inch in diameter. It has many areoles and dense glochids. The seeds are small, tan, and flat.
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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 are bowl-shaped, 2 inches long, 1-inch wide, and creamy yellow with a dense circle of stamens in the center. They bloom from April to mid-May.
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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 are sharp, barbed and injurious.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Edible Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Spines/Thorns
