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Opuntia humifusa |
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Synonym(s) |
Opuntia compressa |
Common name |
eastern prickly-pear |
Family |
cactaceae |
Life cycle |
perennial (Z3-9) |
Flowers |
yellow (June) |
Size |
12" |
Light |
sun |
Cultural notes |
well-drained soil |
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| Cool burgundy fruits in October |
One of the common names for opuntia species is "beaver tail", describing the flat pads. The pads get deflated over winter, but reliably plump up in spring. They are covered in nasty little prickles - not so much sharp and spiny as persistent and irritating. But a little extra care in handling is more than worth it for the late-spring flower display which covers each of the pads with many yellow blooms. Grow new ones by pushing a broken-off pad into some soil - they root easily.
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| By December, the pads start shriveling up |
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We left this plant behind in our Pennsylvania garden (and wish it well); we don't grow it in Houston. About my plant portraits
PlantLinks to other web pages about Opuntia humifusa
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