Prickly Pear

Opuntia fragilis

Growth conditions
USDA Hardiness zone	4-10 Learn more
Light requirement	Full sun, Partial sun/shade
Water requirement	Dry
Soil type	Light (sandy), Medium
Soil pH	6.0-7.5
Drought resistant	true
Physical characteristics
Height	0.1
Cultivation details
Life cycle	Perennial
Layer	Shrubs
Propagation method	Seed - transplant, Seed - direct sow
Germination time	5-180 days
Germination temperature	20-30°C (68-86°F)
Uses
Utility	Erosion control, Ground cover, Deer resistant
Edible	true
Edible parts	Fruit, Leaves, Seed
Warning	Weed potential
Names
Alternate name	Brittle pricklypear, Pygmy pricklypear
Taxonomy
Family	Cactaceae
Origin and spread
Native to	Alberta, Arizona, British Columbia, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Manitoba, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Saskatchewan, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Introduced into	Argentina Northeast, Bulgaria
Links
Wikipedia 🔗
Plants For A Future 🔗
Plants of the World Online 🔗

Created: 2020-11-13 19:08:22 UTC
Last updated: 2025-04-30 09:43:41 UTC by permabot

See edit history (22)

Designing a bed or guild? Try our free garden planner.

Place seeds into moist soil indoors at around 20-30°C (68-86°F). Seeds are slow to germinate, and can take several months.

Take an existing pad, and let dry and callous for 10 days before planting into moist soil.

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