As is the case in other Opuntia species, the green stems of this low-growing perennial cactus are flattened, and are formed of segments. It can be found in or on fencerows, roadsides, rocky glades, rock outcrops, cliffs, old quarries, dunes, and prairie. They are usually yellow, but east of the Appalachian Mountains and on dunes, the center is often red to orange. Opunita humifusa, Eastern Prickly PearFS, Zone 4, dry, blooms June-July Scattered around the eastern United States grows a lovely, sun loving species of cacti known as the Eastern Prickly Pear cactus. Western prickly pear is a dicot angiosperm in the cactus family, Cactaceae.Members of this family are characterized by succulent stems that contain chlorophyll and by spines that have evolved from leaves. © 2011 David Taylor. It is native to the contiguous United States, the contiguous United States, canada, united States, north America, and eastern north america, Prickly pear has become deeply embedded in Eastern Cape society. Pennsylvania Smartweed (Polygonum pensylvanicum), US Forest Service, FM-RM-VE Barbed bristles are found around the surfaces of the segments, and longer spines are sometimes present. 44 With one possible exception, Cactaceae evolved in the New World. Because the Prickly Pear cactus is a truly powerful and incredibly cold hardy cactus! The pulp can be scooped and the seeds strained out to make syrup or jelly. The roots need to be dry during winter to prevent rot, so well drained sites are necessary. The seeds can be briefly roasted and ground into meal. This cactus grows in open, dry areas, often on calcareous rock or thin soils. The narrow spines are wedge-shaped and the flowers, which come into bloom in mid-summer, are a brilliant yellow. Eastern prickly pear can form large colonies or occur as a few individuals in an area. The Eastern Prickly Pear is a very attractive cacti with cold tolerance, heat tolerance, drought tolerance, and the pollinators absolutely love them in late spring/early summer; not to mention the wows people give out too. Other names include Low Prickly Pear, Smooth Prickly Pear, and Devil's Tongue. The Indian fig is bushy to treelike, growing to a height of 5.5 metres (18 feet). Individuals require between six and eight years to mature and flower from seed. But how and when did these exotics from Mexico spread so widely in South Africa? Here in Ohio, it's restricted to the sandy dunes and savannas of the Oak Openings region in the northwest as well as scattered counties in the south. Widely found in the eastern United States, Opuntia humifusa (Eastern Prickly Pear) is a clump-forming succulent shrub with round-to-oval, fleshy, purple-tinged, green pads, up to 10 in. Mailstop Code: 1103 Eastern prickly pear produces striking bright yellow flowers in late spring to early summer – from May to July – at the ends of the green pads. Flowers are produced at the ends of pads in early summer. Plant database entry for Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia humifusa) with 43 images, 3 comments, and 33 data details. [4], This plant is very intolerant of shade and instead thrives in sunny, hot and dry environments with well-draining, sandy soil. I'm excited to learn when they bloom so that I can make a trip back to them. It can grow either horizontal or upright, reaching heights of up to The flowers are large and waxy and have bushy clumps of yellow stamens in the center. Honestly, I thought these had to have gotten loose from somebody's garden, but after digging around, it appears we DO have a native cactus in Arkansas--the Eastern Prickly-Pear. The prickly pears are considered an old group within the cactus family with about 150 species in Opuntia. The fine bristles [4] Their population range in southern Ontario has diminished over time due to succession by larger woody vegetation which shade out the cacti. This family contains about 1,800 species all but possibly one or two native to the New World. A close look at the flower of a Prickly pear cactus showing pollen covering the inside of the bloom. Eastern prickly pear (Opuntia humifusa, formerly Opuntia compressa)* of the Cactus (Cactaceae) family is a mostly prostrate stem-succulent with large, bright yellow, spectacular flowers. It is not only a beautiful plant, but it is also edible, provides food and protection for wildlife and can be used in native landscaping. Opuntia humifusa range map. This stem also stores water. [6], Growing wild in coastal habitat, Milford Connecticut, Growing wild in northern Illinois (partial shade), Close-up of yellow barbed bristles and longer spines, "Species Profile (Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus) - Species at Risk Public Registry", Canadian government recovery strategy for Eastern Prickly Pear, University of Florida - Gardening Solutions - Prickly pear, Opuntia humifusa photo gallery at Opuntia Web, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Opuntia_humifusa&oldid=1003850798, Taxonbars with automatically added basionyms, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 31 January 2021, at 00:25. Flower close up. [6] Young cactus segments can be roasted to remove spines, then peeled and sliced to be eaten like string beans; alternatively, they can be deep fried. The leafy segments can be peeled and chewed for emergency hydration. The pads (stem Especially in Indiana, this cactus is easy to spot. The stems or pads as they are often called can be 5 to 17 centimeters (2 to 7 inches) long and 4 to 12 centimeters (1.5 to 5 inches) wide. Prickly pear, any of several species of flat-stemmed spiny cacti and their edible fruits. Opuntia, commonly called prickly pear, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Pretty flowers that are attractive pollinators. It bears large yellow flowers, 7.5 to 10 cm (3 to 4 inches) across, followed by white, yellow, or reddish purple fruits.. Looking down on green fruits. Because of special antifreeze chemicals in its cells, it can survive the freezing temperatures of the northern and middle states. humifusa, or a synonym of Opuntia compressa. Red center form. Note spines. Eastern Prickly Pear September 5, 2019 by mattbuckinghamphotography A Big Bowl of Lonestar Biodiversity A Pine Warbler perches on the bare twigs of a winged elm in the understory of a mature pine/oak/hickory upland. Are eastern prickly pear (Opuntia humifusa) cacti pads as edible as the kind you find in the grocery store (Opuntia ficus-indica)?I know the fruit is edible, if everything across the Internet I've read is correct, but I'm not so sure about the Waxy yellow to bright gold flowers grow on the pad's edges. Opuntia humifusa, commonly known as the devil's-tongue, eastern prickly pear or Indian fig, is a cactus native to parts of eastern North America. They sometimes also feature a red center. I'm shocked. Those recognizing this species treat Opuntia rafinesquii as a junior synonym. This species is a typical cactus with a photosynthetic stem that acts as a leaf. This species produces edible green fruit that becomes reddish-brown when ripened. Can take dry A look at Opuntia Humifosa, native prickly pear and its propagation 2. Opuntia humifusa, commonly known as the Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus, is a perennial cactus that has rounded, jointed green pad segments on very short stems. It has fewer spines than many western species of prickly pear (Opuntia spp. June 27, 2019 – A closGrowing low to the ground and hidden in the spring vegetation on a well drained sandy ridge or a sunny rocky slope, the native Eastern prickly pear cactus, also known as Devil’s-tongue, finally reveals its’ location when those magnificent yellow blooms appear. They measure 4–6 cm (1 5⁄8–2 3⁄8 in) across. It is also found in Ontario. © 2011 David Taylor. They are capable of surviving cool winters unlike many cacti, although harsh winter storms are known to cause habitat loss. Its stems are divided into flat paddle-like segments that are approximately two to five inches long with a blue tint. [4], The fruits are edible,[5] but have small spiny bristles. [3] Its distribution in Canada is limited to the Carolinian forest in southern Ontario, specifically in Point Pelee National Park. Sometimes small green structures are found associated with each areole at the tip of new or actively growing pads. You may also see it being referred to as devil’s-tongue or Indian fig, the latter hinting at its value as a wild edible. 1400 Independence Ave., SW The flowers are waxy and sometimes have red centers. The best thing is they are native to the eastern United States so they have conquered heat, humi Plants are happy in full sun to somewhat less than full sun. USDA PLANTS Database. There are 6 to 33 small, flat, light-colored seeds in each fruit. Each areole contains glochids (small barbed hairs-painful and irritating when in the skin) and may or may not have a spine in the center. [4], The Eastern prickly pear is one of the native cactus species in Canada and is considered endangered, with only two small populations known to be persisting today. View of a clump with flowers. Their bright, lemon yellow perianth segments are about one and one-half inches long and surround masses of showy stamens. It may be horizontal or upright, growing up to 0.5 metres in height. Some Florida plants are shrub-like and can reach 2 meters (6.5 feet) high. The juicy red or purple fruits measure from 3–5 cm (1 1⁄8–2 in). Opuntia humifusa is the only wide-ranging species of prickly pear in eastern North America; stretching from southern New England to the eastern fringes of the Great Plains. Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus is a perennial vascular plant that produces yellow flowers along the margins of mature joints. This species naturally occurs from arid areas of Montana southward to New Mexico, and eastward to the lower Great Lakes, and along the East Coast from the Florida Keys to coastal Connecticut. ), but they are still fairly formidable. This family contains about 1,800 species all but possibly one or two native to the New World. Eastern prickly pear is in the Cactaceae (Cactus) family. © 2011 David Taylor. These are actual true leaves, but they soon fall off. The pads are dotted with small dot-like structures called areoles. Pads are jointed in a linear or branched fashion. DESCRIPTION: Eastern Prickly Pear is a native perennial in the Cactus family (Cactaceae) that spreads along the ground and grows to 0.5 m tall. The color green in the map indicates that the Eastern Prickly Pear cactus is native to much of the United States and to specific regions in Canada. The seeds are embedded in a pale, mucilaginous substance. General Plant Information ()Plant Habit: Shrub Cactus/Succulent Life cycle: Perennial Sun Requirements: Full Sun Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus by minimizing collection and other human disturbances, such as trampling. In older botanical manuals, it is often listed as Opuntia compressa. It has the largest range of any cactus in the United States and can be found from New Mexico and Montana east to Florida and Massachusetts. The flowers of a Prickly Pear have 7 sepals, 1 pistil, 7 or more petals, and 200+ stamens. Eastern prickly pear is an easy-to-care-for cactus, favored by desert dwellers and cool-weather gardeners alike. Leaves of the eastern prickly pear may subtend each node and are tiny, short-lived, often triangular-shaped bits of tissue. This cactus blooms in the late spring. Some botanists treat this cactus as a variety of Opuntia compressa: hence Opuntia compressa var. Note glochids and true leaves around top. The Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus is a perennial succulent cactus with jointed, rounded, but flattened, green stems, the segments of which are called “pads”. Facts Eastern prickly-pear is New England's only native cactus, found in sandy habitats along the Atlantic coast in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Typical of most cacti, the pads are armed with barbed bristles and spines. Flowers of the prickly pear are produced around the upper margins of the pads. Eastern prickly pear, devil’s tongue Zones: 4-9 Height/Spread: 6 to 12 inches tall and 1 to 2 feet wide Exposure: Full sun Bloom time: June-July Color: Bright green pads, yellow flowers followed by red fruit The only cactus widely It might actually be a spinier variety of eastern prickly pear. Comments: The Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia humifusa) is a striking plant with large beautiful flowers. Native to much of Eastern North America. Generally, the plants are no more than 0.5 meters (19 inches) high and tend to sprawl on the ground. The prickly pears are considered an old group within the cactus family with about 150 species in Opuntia. The flesh of the reddish fruits is edible, but not usually very sweet unlike some other species such as the Indian Fig, Opuntia ficus-indica. Eastern prickly pear is in the Cactaceae (Cactus) family. [2] The flowers are yellow to gold in color, and are found along the margins of mature segments. Eastern prickly pear (Opuntia humifusa), is a species of cacti that is a common occurrence in sandy and dry soils in the midwest and eastern states. Similar species: Plains prickly pear (O. macrorhiza) is uncommon and found mostly in southwestern Missouri. Each of its segments is called a pad, and comes equipped with sharp spines and barbed bristles. [4] Opuntia humifusa will grow in open areas in sandy, rocky and coastal scrub habits. As the fruit matures, it changes colour from green to red, and often remains on the cactus until the following spring. We grow out Eastern Prickly Pear with absolutely no protection, they are right out in the garden with everyone else, and they have survived the coldest winters we’ve had. The eastern prickly pear cactus is a perennial succulent cactus, with jointed, curved, flat green stems. Starvation cactus (O. polyacantha) was once found in Jasper County but has probably been extirpated. The eastern prickly pear cactus ( Opuntia humifusa ) is native to the lower 48 states of the United States. Opuntia humifusa, commonly known as the devil's-tongue, Eastern prickly pear or Indian fig, is a cactus of the genus Opuntia present in parts of eastern North America. They are 3” wide, are yellow with a reddish-orange center and have petals that are heart-shaped with a single small point sticking out of the end. There is not a great deal of specific information before the 1830s. Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus is a surprising east coast native plant. Covered with clusters of reddish-brown, barbed bristles, the pads are scattered with needle-like spines. Eastern Prickly Pear is listed as endangered by COSEWIC and in cITES Appendix Ii. Opuntia humifusa, commonly known as the devil's-tongue,[1] Eastern prickly pear or Indian fig, is a cactus of the genus Opuntia present in parts of eastern North America. across (25 cm). Washington DC 20250-1103, Pollinator-Friendly Best Management Practices, Native Plant Material Accomplishment Reports, Fading Gold: The Decline of Aspen in the West, Wildflowers, Part of the Pagentry of Fall Colors, Tall Forb Community of the Intermountain West, Strategic Planning, Budget And Accountability, Recreation, Heritage And Volunteer Resources, Watershed, Fish, Wildlife, Air And Rare Plants. [1] Prickly pears are also known as tuna (fruit), sabra, nopal (paddle, plural nopales) from the Nahuatl word nōpalli for the pads, or nostle, from the Nahuatl word nōchtli for the fruit; or paddle cactus.