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Plant Selector Guide
Opuntia humifusa (Prickly Pear Cactus)

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Plant Type: Perennial
Uses: Culinary, Border, Ornamental
Propagation: Stem Cuttings, Division
Habit: Low, Spreading, Clump
Light: Full Sun
Flower Color: Yellow
Blooms: Spring, Summer
Width: 1 - 2 ft.
Height: 1 - 3 ft.
Fertility: Average
Soil: Neutral, Acid, Well-Drained
Zone: 5 -11

Hardy Perennial. The Prickly Pear Cactus makes a beautiful rock garden specimen or can contribute to a border garden. The large, fleshy pads of this perennial are covered with long, sharp spines, mainly at their edges. The plant forms a fairly compact clump, but can grow to be pretty large over a long period of time. Flowers are a rich yellow and the blooms are 2 to 3 inches across. They appear at the tops of the leaves or 'pads' and can create quite a dramatic display. For easiest propagation, remove a pad from the mother plant and place it in moist sand, where it will root. Be cautious of the spines and sharp, reddish-brown hairs when handling this perennial.