Plant guide

plains prickly pear.

Opuntia polyacantha

Pronounced oh-PUN-tee-uh pol-ee-uh-KAN-thuh

Also known as Cold-hardy Prickly Pear Cactus, Cold-hardy Pricklypear, Hair-spine Prickly-pear, Hairspine Prickly-pear, Hairspine Pricklypear, Nichol's prickly-pear, Panhandle Prickly-pear, Starvation Cactus

This hardy cactus is a real survivor that thrives in harsh, dry environments. It forms low, spreading mats that look lovely in a rock garden. You will love its vibrant, showy flowers when they bloom in the summer.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Succulent
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 14 to 30 days
Mature size: 1 foot tall
Growth rate: Slow

Care

Give this plant as much sun as you possibly can. Make sure the soil drains perfectly to avoid rot. Watch for shriveling in the winter, which is normal as it goes dormant.

Watering: Let the soil dry out completely between waterings, especially during the winter months.
Feeding: Feed sparingly with a balanced cactus fertilizer only during the active growing season.
Pruning: Only prune to remove damaged or dead pads using thick gloves for protection.
Repotting: Repot only when the plant has clearly outgrown its container or the soil has broken down.
Soil: Sandy, rocky, well draining soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5

Safety

Pets: The sharp spines can cause physical injury to pets if they brush against or try to eat the plant.

How to identify it

Low growing, spreading mat habit
Numerous sharp, needle like spines
Flattened, paddle shaped stem segments
Showy yellow to pink flowers
Small, dry, spiny fruit

Science

Family: Cactaceae
Genus: Opuntia
Order: Caryophyllales
Class: Magnoliopsida

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Is your plains prickly pear looking unwell?

This page is a general guide. Pocket Botanist diagnoses problems from a photo of your actual plant, works out watering for your light and conditions, and reminds you when care is due.

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This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.