Opuntia hybrids
Prickly Pear
Photo of Opuntia hybrids - Prickly Pear
No photo for the moment for Opuntia hybrids - Prickly Pear
Please note: You must be the owner of the posted photo and it must not be copyrighted.
Things You Must Knows cannot be held responsible for photos posted in violation of this rule
Common Name:
Plant Type:
Sun (From 0 to 5):
Water (From 0 to 5):
Maximum temperature:
Minimum temperature:
Maximum height:
Maximum width:
Prickly Pear (Opuntia hybrids) - Description
Opuntia is native to the southwest desert, Mexico, and/or other parts of the Western United States, the Great Plains, Canada, and Florida. There are many different kinds, with varied appearance and hardiness. The flowers are generally large and showy; it's fruit is a berry, often edible, and even tasty!
Prickly Pear (Opuntia hybrids) - Blooming
Showy bowl shaped flowers in summer.
Prickly Pear (Opuntia hybrids) - Growth
Succulent, perennial cacti. Fleshy branches that are flat and padded or rounded. Barbed spines may be very large or small and hair like. Fruits are edible. Opuntia grows best in full sun.
Prickly Pear (Opuntia hybrids) - Planting
Propagate by dividing clumps in spring or rooting individual flattened pads.
Prickly Pear (Opuntia hybrids) - Pest
Mealybugs and scale insects. Other problems include cladode rots, black spot, bacterial soft rot, viruses, and zonate leaf spot.
Prickly Pear (Opuntia hybrids) - Interesting facts
Opuntia is native to the very dry regions of the Americas. The bristles can cause serious aggravation of the skin upon contact. Before consuming prickly pears, the small spines on the surface must thoroughly be removed. The fruits are used to produce distilled spirits in some countries. Prickly pears also contain a number of alkaloids and psychoactive compounds, some with medicinal significance.
Prickly Pear (Opuntia hybrids) - Soil and irrigation
Gritty soil or very well-drained organic soil. Wet soil, especially in winter, is fatal.
