Prickly Pear
Opuntia humifusa
Prickly pear has large, showy yellow flowers that bloom in late spring and early summer. (dogtooth77/Flickr)
Prickly pear is a native perennial cactus with large, showy yellow flowers that bloom in late spring and early summer.
Appearance:
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Bright yellow flowers that are 2-3 inches in diameter
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Flowers sometimes have a red center
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Flowers bloom in May-July
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Thick, green, flattened pads covered with needle-like spines
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Grows to 6 inches tall
Habitat:
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Found in dry, sandy or rocky areas
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Grows in full sun
Range:
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Grows throughout the entire Chesapeake Bay watershed
Reproduction and Life Cycle:
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After blooming, the plant produces fleshy, red, cone-shaped fruit capsules that contain seeds
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Fruit capsules turn reddish-brown as they mature
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Animals such as birds, raccoons and opossums eat the fruit capsules and spread the plant’s seeds
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New seedlings grow in spring
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Also reproduces asexually when pads root into the ground
Other Facts:
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Also known as devil’s tongue
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The only native cactus that is widespread in the eastern United States
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Attract bees when in bloom
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In some places, people eat prickly pear pads and fruit capsules
Sources and Additional Information:
