Opuntia humifusa (Prickly Pear, Devils Tongue, Eastern Prickly Pear)
Botanical Information
| Family | Cactaceae |
| Genus | Opuntia |
| Species | humifusa |
| Category | Perennials, Wildflowers & Weeds |
| Origin | Native to the Point Pelee Provincial Park, Ontario, the only location where it is known to grow in Canada but distributed across most of the eastern United States of America. |
| Pronunciation |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 4 - 9 |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | 2a - Requires cool season protection under glass. |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H3 - H7 |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | -35 - (-1) |
| Temperature (°F) | -30 - 30 |
| Height | 30 cm |
| Spread | 100 m |
| Growth | Medium |
| Flowering Period | July |
Description and Growing Information
| Shape | Low and sprawling. |
| Notable Specimens | The A. M. Cuddy Gardens, Strathroy, Ontario, Canada. |
| Habitat | Grows in full sun and sandy soil in a savanna, where regular fires control overhead vegetation; it is intolerant of shade. In Canada at Point Pelee, the climate is often humid and hot in summer while winters are quite cold. The weather is quite variable in this continental climate because of the conflict between tropical and polar climates. |
| Fruit Description | Seed is distributed by wild turkeys. |
Photographs
