Opuntia sulphureaGillies ex Salm - Dyck
Prickly Pear Cactus
Cactus sericeus , Cactus sulphureus , Opuntia albisetosa , Opuntia coerulea , Opuntia sericea , Opuntia sulphureavar.major , Opuntia sulphureavar.pallidior , Opuntia sulphureavar.sulphurea , Platyopuntia sulphurea
Photo viadavesgarden.com
house : CactaceaeSubfamily : OpuntioideaeTribe : OpuntieaeGenus : Opuntia
Opuntia sulphureais a low - grow cactus composed of many oval to ovoid pads with clusters of phonograph needle - corresponding spines . It tends to stay low to the basis and grow wider rather than tall , form clumps that can reach up to 16 inch ( 40 centimeter ) in tiptop and 6.6 feet ( 2 thousand ) in diameter . The launching pad are tuberculate , green , sometimes purplish , and measure up to 12 inches ( 30 cm ) long and 5.2 inches ( 13 curium ) widely . The little , white areoles exhibit atop protuberances , most bear one to eight spines and yellowish - bolshie to brownish glochids . The spines have a pinkish or chocolate-brown jot when vernal turn ashy - gray-headed or blanched , sometimes cherry-red - brown , and grow up to 0.4 inch ( 1 cm ) long , often twist as they maturate .
The flowers are brilliantly yellowish , often with a paler center , hit up to 1.6 inch ( 4 cm ) in length and 2.2 inches ( 5.5 centimetre ) in diameter , and seem along the edges of the upmost pads in spring . The fruits are icteric to flushed , barrel - shaped , about 1.4 inch ( 3.5 cm ) long , with a divot on the top left when the dry out stiff of the bloom drop away .
The aboriginal range ofOpuntia sulphureais mainly inArgentina , from the Mendoza province up to Juyjuy in the N and the Buenos Aires province to the west , and in parts ofChile , Paraguay , Bolivia , andBrazil .
USDA hardiness zones9b to 11b : from 25 ° F ( −3.9 ° C ) to 50 ° F ( +10 ° C ) .
The large variety of mintage within theOpuntiagenus means different industrial plant may need slightly dissimilar upkeep . All are desert cacti that need lots of sun , luck of light , and very small water . If you live in a red-hot , waterless area , these industrial plant can generally be plant outdoors , left alone , and enjoyed .
These cactus will grow just fine in a garden but can also be grown in mickle . To repot , control the soil is ironical , murder the pot , and remove the old soil . After treating any cuts with antimycotic , place the cactus in a young pot and backfill it withpotting stain . As with a new clipping , ensure not to water a new repotting Prickly Pear briefly to void rotting its root .
Opuntiacan circulate either by cut or by seed . To propagate by cuttings , discerp pad from a plant and permit them dry to heal the wounds . Then , place the plants in wry soil and refrain from irrigate them until they start to grow to avoid rot them .
See more atHow to spring up and Care for Opuntia .
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