Opuntia stricta ( Haw . ) Haw .
Coastal Prickly Pear , Common Pest Pear , vertical Prickly Pear , Pest Prickly Pear
Cactus strictus , Opuntia strictavar.stricta
Photo byChristian Ferrer
Family : CactaceaeSubfamily : OpuntioideaeTribe : OpuntieaeGenus : Opuntia
Opuntia strictais endemic to the semitropical and tropical coastal areas of theAmericasand theCaribbean .
Opuntia strictais a cactus that can grow up to 6.6 feet ( 2 m ) tall as an erect or spreading shrub with fleshy , dull green to grey - immature stem segments . The basal stem section sometimes thicken and form a trunk . The upper segments are flatten , elliptic to obovate , measuring up to 14 in ( 35 centimetre ) long , 8 inches ( 20 centimetre ) widely , and 0.8 inches ( 2 cm ) thick . The areoles are scattered , gutless , or often with one or more yellowish pricker that can grow up to 1.6 inches ( 4 cm ) long and legion brusk yellow glochidium .
Photo byBen Tavener
The lonely bloom are yellow to yellowish - orange tree and appear in spring and summer . They can extend to up to 2.4 in ( 6 curium ) in length and diam . The edible fruit are purple - red and egg - shaped and can originate up to 3.2 inches ( 8 curium ) retentive and 1.6 column inch ( 4 cm ) in diameter .
USDA hardiness zones9a to 11b : from 20 ° F ( −6.7 ° cytosine ) to 40 ° F ( +4.4 ° C ) .
Though the large variety of mintage within theOpuntiagenus agency different , Prickly Pears may need slightly different care . All are desert cacti that need pot of sunlight , light , and very little water . So , if you live in a hot , arid area , these plants can generally be planted outside , leave alone , and enjoyed .
Photo byJohn Tann
These cacti will spring up just fine in a garden but can also be grow in pots . To repot , ensure the grease is dry , remove the muckle , and remove the old soil . After treat any cuts with fungicide , place the cactus in a Modern mint and backfill it with pot ground . As with a new cutting , do not shortly irrigate a newly repotted Prickly Pear to avoid rotting its beginning .
Opuntiacan propagate either by cuttings or by seeded player . To propagate by cuttings , lop pads from a plant and let them dry out to heal the wounds . Then , place the plants in dry grunge and abstain from irrigate them until they commence to grow to avoid rotting them .
Learn more atHow to Grow and Care for Opuntia .
Photo viaopuntiads.com
flick on a photo to see a gravid adaptation .
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