Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus - Opuntia humifusa

Phonetic: op-UN-shee-a hew-mih-FEW-suh

A pollinator and host plant for a wide range of natives bees and moths, eastern prickly pear is the most common native cactus found in the eastern United States. It grows in clumps that spread along the ground. The pads that are produced have small barbed hairs. When in bloom, the pads produce dainty yellow flowers which draw together a diverse range of native bees. Prickly pear needs constant sunlight and dry well drained soils to thrive. Because of the anti-freeze chemical it produces in its cells eastern prickly pear can withstand freezing temperatures and can thrive as far north as Ontario. 

• Hardiness: 4-9
• Native Region: BONAP Map
• BONAP Map Key Color Guide: Map Color Key
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Flower Color: Yellow
• Bloom Time: May-August  
• Soil Type: Dry - part dry
• Mature Plant Size: 6- 18''H, 1-2'W
• Plant Spacing: 12"
• Host Plant: Eastern Cactus-boring Moth, Julia's Dicymolomia, Arge Tiger Moth 
• Attracts: Bees, Birds, Butterflies, other insects
• Advantages: Pollinator plant, Host plant, dry garden, 
• Landscape Uses: dry garden, pollinator garden, sandy soils 
• Companion Plants: Ohio spiderwort, Birds foot violet, wild columbine, 
• Deer and rabbit Resistant