A Prickly Demeanor
Opuntia species are the second largest genus of cacti and not all of them have a prickly demeanor. Many popular varieties have small to few spines or glochids and several interesting types are completely spineless. Prickly pears are native to the Americas but thanks to humans and modern cultivation, these plants have spread to all of the populous continents. Prickly pears are one of the most common types of Opuntia sp., but they are all wonderfully variable and tough.
In North America, prickly pears can be found in every state (excluding Alaska), Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. They are widely diverse in pad size, growth habit, flower color, pad & spine color, number & length of spines. Many are also extremely cold tolerant, due to their native provenance and adaptions. They are all easy to grow, fun to collect and design with whether in-ground or for container gardens. Pick out your favorite from the following descriptions and photos...
Opuntia santa-rita - Purple prickly pear
Rounded or circular shaped pads (sometimes heart-shaped) are powder-blue to gray-green in color. New pads or mature pads that are cold or drought stressed turn a stunning violet purple color, hence the common name. Pads of this species are usually spineless, sporting only clusters of glochids. If spines form, they occur on edges of the pads. Mature pads are typically 6-8 in. across, with the typical plant size of 4-5 ft. high and wide when full grown. Flowers are yellow to cream and stand out well against the blue or purple color of the pads. Fruits will be reddish in late summer to fall. Easy to grow. Heat & drought tolerant and hardy to USDA zone 8.
Opuntia cacanapa v. ellisiana - Hardy Spineless prickly pear
This prickly pear species is native to a large area of west & south Texas. They are typically found in the wild with long golden spines protecting the glaucus blue-green round to oval pads. Ellisiana is completely spineless and without glochids making it smooth to the touch. The spineless pads highlight their velvety blue-green appearance. They are also cold hardy to USDA zone 7, making them the hardiest spineless prickly pear. Mature plants grow 3-4 ft. high and 4-6 ft. wide. Can be kept smaller if grown in containers by simply removing unwanted pads. Flowers occur in spring are large bright canary yellow followed by small pink to red fruits held above the pads.
Opuntia gomei 'Old Mexico' - Old Mexico prickly pear
These plants are a thornless selection of a popular and underutilized Opuntia that is native to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas and into Mexico. Often confused with or misnamed as a Lindheimer Opuntia or sometimes erroneously as O. undulata. Which makes sense when you see a fine specimen of this plant. Its virtually thornless pads are distinctively undulated or wavy. They are oval in shape but the random contortions of the pads gives this plant a sculptural, fun appearance. Give it some room. A mature plant can grow to 5 ft. tall and nearly 8 ft. across if allowed. Average but well-drained soil is best. They can be grown in large containers and pads removed yearly to limit its size if desired. Easy to grow and cold hardy to 10°F (USDA zone 7-11)
Opuntia ficus-indica - Indian Fig prickly pear
A true spineless prickly pear, these plants have been domesticated and spread far and wide by indigenous people of Mexico, central America and into the Southwest U.S. for centuries. The pads are used as food (nopales), fruits, and animal fodder, while whole plants function as natural fences, fire barriers and for ornamental use. Interestingly, these plants have been cultivated as living breeding grounds for cochineal scale that create a bright white sticky coating which is harvested & used for a unique natural deep red dye. Flowers can be yellow to orange in color, and the fruits (pears or figs) are large, red watery but sweet. They can be pealed and eaten raw, but are more often used for jams or jellies or as juice in Margaritas. Plants can grow large, with large oval pads of 10-12in. long and 8-10in wide. Mature plants develop thick bark-like scaly surface near the ground which makes them sturdy and resistant to damage. Easy to grow. Most are cold hardy to near 20°F, but as with other cacti species young plants or immature pads are most susceptible to frost damage. Any well-draining soil will do.
All types of prickly pears are easy to get started and grow. Even those with a prickly demeanor are worth the effort if you know what you are looking for in a container or sculptural landscape plant.
