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Opuntia compressa (Eastern prickly pear cactus)

Opuntia compressa Photo/Illustration: Steve Aitken



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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Botanical Name: Opuntia compressa Common Name: Eastern prickly pear cactus Synonyms: Opuntia humifusa Genus: Opuntia
Prickly pear cactus is a clump-forming and semi-prostrate plant. Flattened round-to-oval green pads 2-10 inches across have scattered needle-like spines and tufts of glochids (bristles). Showy bright yellow flowers appear in late spring and summer, maturing to edible, pulpy, red or purple fruit.
 Noteworthy characteristics: Bristles cause intense skin irritation and are difficult to remove. This plant becomes scraggly as the pads lose water before winter, greening up again in spring.
 Care: Easy to grow in dry, sandy, or gravelly soil. Tolerates clay soil with good drainage. Naturalizes by pads breaking off and rooting.
 Propagation: From separated root stem segments.
 Problems: Cladode rots, zonate leaf spot, black spot, mealybugs, and scale insects. Also bacterial soft rot and viruses.
Height 6 in. to 12 in.
Spread 1 ft. to 3 ft.
Growth Habit Clumps
Light Full Sun to Part Shade
Moisture Dry
Characteristics Native; Showy Flowers
Bloom Time Spring; Summer
Flower Color Yellow Flower
Uses Beds and Borders, Naturalizing
Style Desert Garden, Rock Garden, Xeric Bed
Seasonal Interest Summer Interest
Type Cacti and Succulents

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