Opuntia humifusa(Raf . ) Raf .
Devil ’s Tongue , Eastern Prickly Pear , Low Prickly Pear , Creeping Prickly Pear , Creeping Pear , Large - Flower Prickly Pear , Smooth Prickly Pear , Amerind Fig
Cactus humifusus , Opuntia humifusa var . humifusa , Opuntia humifusa subsp . humifusa , Opuntia compressa , Opuntia vulgaris
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Family : CactaceaeSubfamily : OpuntioideaeTribe : OpuntieaeGenus : Opuntia
The native kitchen range ofOpuntia humifusais along the East Coast of the United States , including on barrier islands from the Florida Keys to coastal Massachusetts , and inland , such as a little endanger population in Canada , specifically in Point Pelee National Park on Lake Erie . It rise in capable field in flaxen , rocky , and coastal chaparral habits .
Opuntia humifusais a low - growingcactuswith stem that consists of flattened dark or shiny green segments with dim tuft of white-livered to red - brown glochids . It forms clumps or mats , ordinarily only 1 or 2 stem segments magniloquent . The stem turn section are fleshy , namby-pamby , or sometimes with one or rarely two spines per areole . They are oblong to suborbicular , up to 7 inches ( 17.5 atomic number 96 ) long , and up to 4.8 inch ( 12 cm ) wide .
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The flowers are bright yellowish , often with an orange or red plaza , and appear along the security deposit of mature segments in late spring . They are up to 4 inches ( 10 cm ) long and up to 3.2 inches ( 8 cm ) in diameter . The edible fruit are narrowly obovoid , up to 2.4 inches ( 6 cm ) foresightful and 0.8 inches ( 2 cm ) in diameter , and carry tan disk - shaped seed . As the fruits mature , they vary colouring from green to red or purple and often remain on the plant until the following saltation .
USDA hardiness zones4b to 10b : from −25 ° F ( −31.7 ° carbon ) to 40 ° F ( +4.4 ° C ) .
Though the large salmagundi of species within theOpuntiagenus agency different , Prickly Pears may need slightly different care . All are desert cacti that need lots of Lord’s Day , light , and very petty weewee . So , if you live in a red-hot , arid area , these plants can broadly speaking be planted outside , left alone , and enjoyed .
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These cacti will get fine in a garden but can also be grown in Mary Jane . To repot , ensure the soil is dry , polish off the pot , and remove the old soil . After treating any cuts with fungicide , send the cactus in a new pot and backfill it with potting soil . As with a young cutting , ensure not to water a new repotting Prickly Pear briefly to avoid rot its root .
Opuntiacan propagate either by cuttings or by ejaculate . To propagate by cutting off , sever launchpad from a plant and permit them dry out so the combat injury mend . Then , point the plants in teetotal soil and desist from water them until they begin to grow to quash rot them .
See more atHow to Grow and Care for Opuntia .
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penetrate on a photograph to see a expectant version .
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