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Eastern Prickly Pear

Opuntia Humifusa

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Overview

The Opuntia humifusa, commonly known as the Corrugated Prickly Pear, is a hardy, low-growing cactus native to North America. Its distinctive paddle-shaped segments are covered with corrugated, protective spines and bear vibrant yellow blooms in late spring, followed by edible red fruit. This drought-tolerant plant prefers full sun and well-drained soil, reaching up to 18 inches in height and spreading up to 30 inches. Ideal for xeriscaping and rock gardens.

Sun Full, HalfWater Low, Very LowZones 9–10Type Cactus, SucculentClimate Arid

Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia Humifusa) — reaching up to 18 inches in height and spreading up to 30 inches; low-growing cactus native to North, image 73

Culture

Sun: Full, Half
Water: Low, Very Low
USDA zones: 9–10

Shape & size

Classification

Type: Cactus, Succulent
Family: Cactaceae
Climate: Arid

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Photos (120)

Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia Humifusa) — or as a ground cover in dry; yellow flowers in the garden

Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia Humifusa) — Thriving in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 9

Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia Humifusa) — followed by edible red fruit; scientifically named Opuntia humifusa, image 71

Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia Humifusa) — followed by edible red fruit

Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia Humifusa) — producing showy yellow flowers with red centers; and are adorned with tufts of 1 to 2 inch long, image 59

Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia Humifusa) — low-growing cactus native to North America

Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia Humifusa) — scientifically named Opuntia humifusa; commonly known as the Corrugated Prickly Pear, image 98

Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia Humifusa) — cactus / succulent with yellow blooms

Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia Humifusa) — and are adorned with tufts of 1 to 2 inch long

Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia Humifusa) — each averaging 2 to 3 inches in diameter; cactus / succulent with yellow blooms, image 82

Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia Humifusa) — scientifically named Opuntia humifusa; commonly known as the Corrugated Prickly Pear, image 54

Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia Humifusa) — The Corrugated Prickly Pear; each averaging 2 to 3 inches in diameter, image 75

Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia Humifusa) — It's a low-maintenance choice for rock gardens; blue-green pads are covered with a pattern of raised bumps, image 84

Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia Humifusa) — blue-green pads are covered with a pattern of raised bumps; cactus / succulent for full or half

Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia Humifusa) — The Corrugated Prickly Pear; each averaging 2 to 3 inches in diameter, image 97

Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia Humifusa) — cactus / succulent for full or half; or as a ground cover in dry, image 88

Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia Humifusa) — followed by edible red fruit; scientifically named Opuntia humifusa, image 93

Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia Humifusa) — protective spines and bear vibrant yellow blooms in late spring; its distinctive paddle-shaped segments, image 70

Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia Humifusa) — scientifically named Opuntia humifusa

Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia Humifusa) — Ideal for xeriscaping and rock gardens; the Corrugated Prickly Pear, image 96

Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia Humifusa) — Thriving in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 9; producing showy yellow flowers with red centers

Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia Humifusa) — cactus / succulent with yellow blooms; thriving in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 9, image 65

Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia Humifusa) — is a resilient species of cactus native to many parts of the eastern United States; ideal for xeriscaping and rock

Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia Humifusa) — plant the Corrugated Prickly Pear in well-drained soils; this drought-tolerant plant prefers full sun and, image 61

Photographs by 15 contributors

Curtis Abert, CC BY 2.0 · source
Doug McGrady from Warwick, RI, USA, CC BY 2.0 · source
Siliurp, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Fritzflohrreynolds, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Peter A. Mansfeld, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
wackybadger, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Sus scrofa, CC BY 4.0 · source
Sesamehoneytart, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
[email protected], CC BY 2.0 · source
Heiditoronto, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Emőke Dénes, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

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