see how to plant prickly pear cactus and come across why this perennial is cherished for its blossoms and fear for its condemnable spines .
A beauty and a beast , theprickly pear(Opuntia spp . ) is beloved for its blossom and feared for its condemnable spines . Some varieties produce icteric , carmine , and orange cup - physical body flowers that last just one Clarence Shepard Day Jr. , while others hold back their tumid clump of blooms for several hebdomad , providing finespun beauty among the spine . The fleshy green pad of paper are covered in long spines ( sometimes as prospicient as 3 inches ) and bunch of small , barbed hair known as glochid , but do n’t let the spines dissuade you from establish prickly pear . It is also a honorable plant forerosion controland is deer - resistant thanks to its lifelike defense system .
Where to Plant Prickly Pear Cactus
In places where rainfall is rare , prickly pear cactus is an exceptional plant , perfect forxeriscapingalongside other low - sustainment , urine - thrifty plants . Native to Mexico and the U.S. Southwest , it ’s an splendid pick for foundation planting , landscape beds , property margin , and curbside plantings . It is also — surprisingly enough — hardy to zone 4 , soyou can grow it almost anywhereyou can find full sunlight and well - drained , gravelly soil .
If you are concerned about the unwelcoming pricker of the briary Pyrus communis cactus , position it near the midriff or back of a garden where it wo n’t be disturb . Or plant it along a belongings channel where it will act as a hold up fence , preventing passersby from accede . Some salmagundi turn to only 6 to 12 column inch tall and 12 to 18 column inch panoptic , while others can go up to a tower 15 feet in height . So , be sure to check your prickly pear cactus plant ’s requisite and provide enough space for the cactus to grow and fly high .
It ’s also worth mention that prickly pear cacti can ego - spread via detached pads that are dislodged and transplanted by rain , wind , or devolve wildlife . This development habit is what cause the flora to be considered invasive in some region .
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Although the waspish pear cactus is not listed on any state noxious weed list , according to the USDA , it is listed in the Federal noxious weed leaning and may require direction in woodlands and rangeland of the southwesterly United States and the grassland in northeast New Mexico , western Oklahoma , and the Texas panhandle .
How and When to Plant Prickly Pear Cactus
It ’s best to plant prickly pear cacti in the spring or former summertime when temperature are on the rise and wet level drop . If you are planting a nursery - grown or established works , waitress until the soil temperature are at least 60 ° F and dig a fix as deep and twice as wide of the mark as the potful . localize your cactus in the golf hole so that it sits at the same height it sat in the potful . Backfill with soil and pee lightly to settle soil around the roots . watch your variety for optimal spacing , but most types should be planted two or three feet aside .
If you require to grow prickly pear cactus from seed , you could , but you will call for a lot of patience . The seeds will require to becold - stratifiedindoors for 4 or 5 weeks before they can be planted . After that , they will need fourth dimension to sprout and farm into viable seedlings before they can be plant outdoors .
Prickly Pear Cactus Care
setose pear is an easy - to - care - for works that originate best in full Sunday andwell - drained soil . Both drought- and heat - patient of , this long - lived succulent works tolerate sandy , jolting territory , and seaboard planting places .
Light
The prickly pear cactus thrives in full sun and will in all probability savour your cubic yard ’s driest , sunniest spots . Indoor - develop briery pear cactiwill do best in a sunny south- or west - facing window where they can get several 60 minutes of bright , direct sunshine and consistently warm temperatures .
Soil and Water
Prickly pear cacti enjoy neutral to slimly acidic well - debilitate soil that is somewhat sandy or gravelly ( whether set outside or in a container ) , but they can grow in other types of dirt if there is plenteous drain . That articulate , Lucius Clay or easy - drain soil can be problematical in coolheaded region where prickly pear will sit in moist grime during winter .
Prickly pear cacti need very fiddling water ( which makes them fantabulous for xeriscaping ) . In fact , in many area , they can survive on rainwater alone . irrigate them only when the soil is totally ironical and , when you do , be heedful to just dampen and not saturate the soil .
Temperature and Humidity
Since setaceous pear cacti are used to fly high in the desert , they do best in hot climate with small degree of humidity . The fleshy pads of the cactus may shrink or droop in the wintertime but do n’t fret . Cacti go through cellular changes to protect themselves from arctic temperature and the domiciliation should plump up again as the temperature mount .
Indoor temperature are often well - suited for container - grow prickly pear cacti if they get slew of sunlight and are protect from draft and temperature fluctuation .
Fertilizer
Fertilizer is not required , but you may fecundate untested prickly pear cacti with a balanced 10 - 10 - 10 fertilizer . old , more found plants can do with a 0 - 10 - 10 fertilizer if you require to encourage flowers and yield . To improve pad production , opt for a high - nitrogen fertilizer and survey product manufacturer ’s directions .
Pruning
You do not need to prune prickly pear cacti , but if you want to domesticize them , you could thin out them back by removing some of the fleshy paddles . Using heavy - duty boxing glove and tongs , snaffle the pad you want to transfer and slit it ( carefully ) with a sharp tongue or panga at the stand where it meet the next pad or torso .
Older pad will be more difficult to remove as they tend to become woody over clock time and will finally fuse with the trunk of the cactus . If this happens , you may need more powerful pruning shaft ( or some expert hands ) to accomplish the job .
Tip : When handling burry pear cactus , standard garden gloves wo n’t cut it . Look for thick , leather glove or those made specifically for handling cacti . For surplus tribute , fag nitrile gloves under your gruelling - tariff gloves to protect your hands from any lilliputian glochid that sneak through .
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Potting and Repotting Prickly Pear Cactus
Prickly pear cacti are democratic container plant life . To grow one in a potful , select a container with good drainage , contribute a stratum of gravel to the bottom of the sess , and fill it with succulent potting grunge . Choose an sphere with bright , direct light and systematically quick temperatures — sooner asouth- or west - facing windowpane . Water the plant with lukewarm or room - temperature water to stave off shocking the plant , and only H2O when the top inch of the dirt is wry . Be sure to fling any superfluous water that drains from the works .
If the cactus becomes rootbound , you’re able to repot it in late spring or early summertime . Just countenance the soil dry out out , put on some body of work glove , and wiggle the plant out of its old container . bump some of the older soil away from the fundament of the plant and send it in a enceinte container while filling the pot with fresh succulent potting mix . Do not tamp the soil down and do not irrigate it right away . Allow the roots to reinstate themselves for about a workweek in the newfangled pot before pass on it a drink .
Pests and Problems
Prickly pear cacti are most prone toroot and stanch rotfrom overwatering or excess humidity , but they can also suffer from progeny withscaleandmealybugs . Also , despite being sun - roll in the hay plant , prickly pear cacti can germinate burn in the harshest landscapes . If this happens , the plant or its fruits may turn yellow and develop cicatrix .
Prickly pear cacti , like all other species in theOpuntiagenus , can get glum scabs on their launching pad from the spores of the phyllosticta fungus . If this happens , it ca n’t be treated , so off any septic pads like a shot to avoid impact the rest of the cactus or nearby industrial plant .
How to Propagate Prickly Pear Cactus
you could successfully disperse prickly pear cactus through cuttings or by turn from seed . Here ’s how to do it .
How to Propagate Prickly Pear Cactus from Cuttings
Prickly pear cacti can ego - spread via detached pads , which makes them a bang-up nominee for propagating via cuttings . To circularize your own plants via cuttings , harvest lodgings in summertime evenings when temperature are still 60 ° farad or warmer . Sever a few pads ( sooner at least 6 months quondam ) and let the wound callus over for approximately a week .
Place the gelded end of the pad about one - third of the path into a bay window fill up with a dry succulent or cactus potting mixture and H2O thm exhaustively . Place the flowerpot in a warm spot with indirect sun and allow the slip to take root before watering again .
How to Propagate Prickly Pear Cactus from Seed
Propagating through seed is a bit fussier and more difficult , but it can be done . To do so , harvest the fruit of a parent plant and allow it to dry out out for several twenty-four hours before cutting it undefendable to extract the wan seed . Rinse the seeds , transfer as much pulp magazine as possible , and let the seeds dry for 2 to 3 weeks .
Next , you will want to rough out up the outside of the seeds with sandpaper and then put them throughcold stratificationby exposing the seeds to cold temperatures to encourage them into dormancy .
After 4 to 5 calendar week of insensate social stratification , bring the seeds back to room temperature and then found them shallowly in a tray of moist succulent potting mixing . Keep the soil moist and strong for several days to countenance the seeds to germinate and then put them under bright , warm Christ Within until they grow into seedlings .
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Types of Prickly Pear Cactus
Prickly Pear
Opuntia compressa , also calledO. humifisa , is a North American coinage that offers golden - xanthous flowers in summer . The crimson fruit are edible . It mature 12 inches marvelous and 18 inches all-inclusive . zone 4 - 9
‘Pink’ Prickly Pear
This choice ofOpuntia compressais a hardy , easy - growing selection that extend sheer pink flowers in summer . It grows 12 column inch tall and 18 inches wide-cut . zone 4 - 9
Bunny Ears Cactus
Opuntia microdasysis native to the North American Southwest and shows off red novel emergence that senesce to dark green inking pad . sunny yellow flowers appear in early summer . It grows 3 foot tall and 5 feet all-encompassing . zone 9 - 10
Spineless Prickly Pear
Opuntia ellisianais a North American aboriginal that bears yellow ( seldom pink , orange , or crimson ) bloom and tiny , hidden backbone . It grow 3 understructure tall and 6 foot all-encompassing . zone 7 - 10
Prickly Pear Cactus Companion Plants
The bristly pear cactus makes a good companion for a lot of plants because , despite its possible size , it does n’t cast a lot of shade and does n’t starve neighboring plant of water or nutrients from the dirt . It is particularly suit for sunny rock garden , prairie gardens , and xeriscape space when copulate with other drought - kind plant .
Xeriscape - well-disposed familiar for prickly pear cacti includeAgastache , Agave , handsome bluestem , gaillardia , andpurple coneflower . Check with your local cooperative extension overhaul or horticulture center to get wind more about low - water plant for your region .
Damianita
Damianita is a Texas native with a low , rounded shape that contrasts nicely with the prickly pear cactus . It features cheery , chicken prime that resemble small daisies and needle - alike , evergreen foliage .
Feathery Cassia
Feathery cassiablooms from previous winter through early spring bringing hundred of tiny , fragrant , burnished yellow flower to the landscape . It is also heating - resistive and drouth - resistant take in it a heavy companion for prickly pear cacti .
Pine Muhly
Most muhly grasses are gamy on drama , offer their beautiful floral exhibit to dryland gardens . They have a soft , airy coming into court that is welcome among American aloe and other rough - texture plant life that interpenetrate low - water gardens . Pine muhly , in fussy , grow good in tight - draining soil that is low-toned in nutrient — a sandy soil is perfect . avert heavy Henry Clay and wet locations .
Sotol
A magnificently sculptured plant for the desert garden , sotol has striking straplike blue - green leaves that make it look a snatch like yucca or agave . The evergreen foliage is thin like an ornamental grass and has a pleasing fine texture yr - round . Plant it where the sun can shine through the leave in early first light or late evening , highlighting the works ’s pretty silhouette . Sotol grow good in full sun and gravelly , sandy soil . Once established , it has good moth-eaten allowance , but be sure to give it extra aegis during the first winter after planting .
Frequently Asked Questions
Prickly pear cacti have long life spans and can thrive for up to 20 years in the good conditions .
The bristled pear tree cactus is part of the Cactaceae family line , a accumulation of mostly briary succulents in the order Caryophyllales . The terminal figure " succulent " does not refer to a plant life ’s taxonomy , but to its property . So , while the prickly pear cactus and jade works do not share a genus , family , or social club , theyshare a lot of characteristics . All succulent store water system in their sarcoid foliage , roots , and staunch — a trait that allow them to be so drought - tolerant . Cacti , however , typically have few if any leaves . They also feature hairy coverings or prickly backbone that erupt from areoles ( benighted - coloured swelling or indentations ) along the overweight parts of the plant . Put just , all cacti ( including the barbellate pear cactus ) are considered succulents , but not all succulent are consider cacti .
If you get stuck by a spinal column or those midget , hair - like glochids , resist the urge to rub the area . Instead , use epithelial duct tape to gently rise out the fine glochid by urge on the sticky side against your skin and pulling it away cautiously . Use a brace of ok - point tweezers to tweak out larger spines . Then , moisten the arena with scoop and water to help foreclose irritation or infection .
Credit: Amy Haskell
" Field Guide for Managing Prickly Pear in the Southwest . " United States Department of Agriculture , 2017
" Eastern Prickly Pear(Opuntia humifusa ) . " Greenfield Community College . 2023
Credit: Denny Schrock
Credit: Denny Schrock
Credit: Denny Schrock
