Perennials, Tropicals > Opuntia > Opuntia microdasys > Opuntia microdasys
Opuntia microdasys
Bunny Ears Pricklypear
Origin: North and Central Mexico.
| Family |
| Cactaceae |
| Genus |
| Opuntia |
| Species |
| microdasys |
| Category |
| Perennials, Tropicals |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 10b |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| Requires cool season protection under glass. |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H2 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| 2 - 4 |
| Temperature (°F) |
| 35 - 40 |
| Height |
| 60 - 90 cm |
| Spread |
| 120 - 150 cm |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Awards
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| Opuntia microdasys is a low-lying cactus shrub-like plant. |
| Landscape |
| As an accent plant or barrier plant for desert gardens, in potted succulent collections, as a potted indoor or patio plant or as a specimen. |
| Cultivation |
| Plant in well-draining cactus mix, gravelly or sandy soils in full sun. Repot annually to encourage growth. |
| Shape |
| Upright-spreading. |
| Growth |
| Slow |
| Habitat |
| Desert hills and arid uplands. |
| Leaf Description |
| Cladodes are 6 - 15cm in length and 6 - 12 cm in width, velvety, rounded, with apparent glochids and sometimes one short spine. |
| Flower Description |
| Open cup-shaped blooms showing at the edges of cladodes. |
| Fruit Description |
| Nearly globose, 3 cm in diameter, fleshy, red to purple-red. |
| Colour Description |
| Medium to sage green succulent flesh. Brownish-orange areoles and spines with yellow to red blooms. |
| Texture Description |
| Coarse. |
| Notable Specimens |
| Desert Botanical Gardens, Phoenix, Arizona, the United States of America. Centennial Conservatory, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. |
| Propagation |
| Cuttings. |
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