Opuntias; The Prickly-Pears and Chollas

The Genus Opuntia

Prickly-pears and chollas for the landscape

     In almost any landscape in the desert southwest you will probably find an Opuntia species. Because of their attractive form and simple horticultural requirements they are shared amongst neighbors. Hardly anyone needs to buy plants as they are readily rooted from cuttings-which can be obtained through that nice neighbor or from random plants emerging from alleyway volunteers, or maybe you can even sneak a cutting from that not-so-nice neighbor in the darker hours of the day. No matter how you obtain plants, they make great specimens and even offer gorgeous flowers in the warm season. Many are also edible. See the list of pictures at the end of this article.

     Care for the Opuntias are easy. Plant them. Water them once in a while. Most species like a bit of sun (plants in shade are more prone to problems). Plant where they won’t snag anyone. And…that’s about it. If you want them to grow fast, water them more. There are a few species that require slightly more care, particularly the ones from more northerly locations, though these are easier to grow for those of you who live in those more northerly locations.

     For the most part there are two types of Opuntias:

     The prickly-pears are the most commonly grown plants of Opuntias. They are very adaptable to a wide array of horticultural conditions, and there are species that make it as far north as Canada (yeah really!). These make the edible and delicious “nopales”, or edible prickly-pears you get canned or jarred. Best cuttings are made from a stem that has about 2-3 pads. Plant directly into the ground and