Cactaceae
Opuntia Polyacantha
Opuntia Polyacantha grows up to 16 feet tall. It forms low mats of erect or spreading pads. The succulent green pads are oval or circular.
Its areoles are tipped with woolly brown fibers and glochids. The areoles spines are of variable in size and shape. They can be stout or thin, straight or curling, and a variety of colors.
The flowers can be yellow or magenta in color. The fruit is cylindrical, brownish, dry, spiny, fleshy and edible. Remove spines from the fruit and pads before preparing to eat. Find Optunia recipes and learn more about edible succulents here.
Opuntia Polyacantha Care and Propagation Information:
Hardiness
Zones: 3a - 9bOpuntia Polyacantha generally prefers hot temperatures, but will tolerate a wide range of temperatures.
Water Needs
- Low
- Occasional
Tends to prefer well-drained soil. Will grow in containers, rock gardens and in desert like conditions. Opuntia Polyacantha would be perfect to use in xeriscaping as it is drought tolerant.
Soil Requirements
- Average
- Well-Drained
- Rocky
- Gritty
Opuntia Polyacantha prefers sandy/gritty soils, and prefers well-drained soil.
Light Requirements
- Sun
Younger Optunia do well in bright sunlight. Mature planter prefer full sun. Growing Opuntia Polyacantha indoors requires as much direct sunlight as possible, west or south facing windows tend to do best.
Ideal Growing Location
- Outdoors
How do you propagate Opuntia Polyacantha?
Opuntia Polyacantha is propagated from:- Seed
- Cuttings
The pads will root to form new plants. Although, they can become invasive in some regions, so keep that in mind before propagating and planting.
To propagate, use a clean cutting tool to cut at the joint. Let the cutting callous for 2 to 3 days. Once calloused, the cutting can be placed in a container or directly in the soil to root. Cuttings will usually root in 2 to 6 weeks.
Does Opuntia Polyacantha Flower?
Yes, it flowers during:
- Spring
Does Opuntia Polyacantha go dormant?
There is no dormancy information for this succulent.
Is Opuntia Polyacantha poisonous?
Yes, it is known to cause issues in:
- Humans
Synonyms
Opuntia heacockiae, Opuntia heacockul, Opuntia missouriensis, Opuntia polyacantha var. arenaria, Opuntia rhodantha, Opuntia rutila, Tunas polyacantha, Opuntia arenaria, Opuntia erinacea var. rhodanthaPictures of Opuntia Polyacantha
Find Similar Succulents
- Family: Cactaceae
- Sub-Family: Opuntioideae
- Genus: Opuntia
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