Perennials > Opuntia > Opuntia fragilis > Opuntia fragilis
Opuntia fragilis
Little Prickly Pear
Origin: Central to Western United States.
| Family |
| Cactaceae |
| Genus |
| Opuntia |
| Species |
| fragilis |
| Category |
| Perennials |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 2 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 3 |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H7 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| (-15) - 4 |
| Temperature (°F) |
| 5 - 40 |
| Height |
| 5-10 cm |
| Spread |
| 30 cm |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| Mat-forming low plant, large bluish-green terminal joints. Covered in miniature barbed glochids which easily detach from the plant when touched, can be quite painful. |
| Landscape |
| In rock gardens, in potted succulent collections, as a potted patio decoration plant or as a specimen. |
| Cultivation |
| Sandy, rocky or gravelly soils in full sun or partial shade, is not tolerant of full shade. |
| Shape |
| Low-spreading. |
| Growth |
| Slow |
| Pests |
| None known. May rot if soil is too wet. |
| Habitat |
| Desert valleys, low hills or mountainsides at an altitude of 600-1,500 m. |
| Leaf Description |
| Conical leaves, 1.5-3 mm long. Spines are straight, greyish-white in colour generally cover the joints and spread in all directions, 1-6 per areole, 1.2-1.5 cm in length. |
| Flower Description |
| Greenish-yellow in colour, 4.5 cm in diameter, greenish-yellow filaments 1.5 mm long, style 10-15 mm long, with 10 stigmas. |
| Fruit Description |
| Obovoid, spiny or spineless, reddish-green in its youth turning dry and tan coloured at maturity roughly 2-3 months after flowering. |
| Propagation |
| Sow seeds early spring in a well drained compost, once large enough, prick and place in individual pots to remain for their first 2 winters. The following late spring or early summer plant in their permanent location. Leaf pads can be cut at any time, place the cutting in a dry sunny area and ensure the base is completely dry, beginning to callous then pot in sandy compost. |
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