Texas Prickly Pear

(Opuntia lindheimeri)

Texas Prickly Pear (Opuntia lindheimeri)

Hadley Paul Garland

CC BY-SA 2.0

Image By: Hadley Paul Garland

Recorded By:

Copyright Notice: Photo by: Hadley Paul Garland | License Type: CC BY-SA 2.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ | Uploader: Paul Garland | Publisher: Flickr

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Opuntia lindheimeri, commonly known as Texas Prickly Pear, is an evergreen succulent native to the arid and semi-arid regions, including desert grasslands, rocky hillsides, and sandy plains of the Southern United States and Northeast Mexico. It typically grows to a height and width of 3-5 feet (0.9-1.5 meters). This cactus has a distinctive appearance with its segmented, paddle-shaped stems called cladodes, which are covered in clusters of spines. The Texas Prickly Pear blooms in the spring and summer, producing showy yellow flowers that mature into orange, and the flowers are followed by purple fruits, which are edible and often harvested.

Texas Prickly Pear is valued for its drought tolerance and unique structural form, making it an excellent choice for xeriscaping and desert-themed gardens. It is also used in rock gardens and as a barrier plant due to its spiny nature. The plant requires minimal maintenance, thriving in full sun or part shade, and prefers well-drained soils. It is important to avoid overwatering to prevent root rot. While generally pest-resistant, it can be susceptible to cochineal scale insects, which appear as white cottony masses on the pads.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Succulent
Height: 3-5 feet
Width: 3-5 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate
Flower Color: Orange, Yellow
Flowering Season: Spring, Summer
Leaf Retention: Evergreen

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water: Very Low, Low
Drainage: Fast

Common Uses

Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Erosion Control, Fire Resistant, Groundcover, Hummingbird Garden, Low Maintenance, Rock Garden, Showy Flowers, Street Planting

Natural Habitat

Arid and semi-arid regions, including desert grasslands, rocky hillsides, and sandy plains

Other Names

Common Names:

Scientific Names: Opuntia lindheimeri , Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri , Opuntia engelmannii subsp. lindheimeri , Opuntia gomei , Opuntia pyrocarpa , Opuntia haematocarpa , Opuntia laxiflora , Opuntia griffithsiana , Opuntia squarrosa , Opuntia lindheimeri var. lehmannii

GBIF Accepted Name: Opuntia engelmannii subsp. lindheimeri (Engelm.) U.Guzmán & Mandujano