Opuntia mesacantha: Country Or Region Of Origin
Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay
Plant Profile: Opuntia mesacantha
Names
Barbary Fig, Cochineal Prickly Pear, Drooping Prickly Pear, Drooping Tree Pear, Prickly-pear, Spreading Prickly Pear
Phonetic Spelling:op-UN-tee-a mes-uh-KANTH-uh
Genus:Opuntia
Species:mesacantha
Family:Cactaceae
Prickly pear is an evergreen succulent native to coastal dunes, sandy riverbanks, and pine forests. This rapidly growing, shrubby cactus can reach heights of up to 20 feet (approximately 6 meters) and features a short trunk that may grow to about 8 inches (around 20 centimeters) in diameter.
It thrives in sunny environments with ample light and limited water supply. In hot, dry regions, it can be cultivated outdoors, either in garden beds or containers.
This plant is ideal for xeriscaping and is relatively easy to transplant. However, its seeds require over a year to mature before they can germinate. The prickly pear produces edible fruits and leaf pads, but it is also equipped with sharp spines and irritating hairs.
Opuntia mesacantha Feature Summary
Opuntia mesacantha Image Gallery
Tags
#evergreen
#food source fall
#food source herbage
#food source nectar
#food source pollen
#native succulent
#food source soft mast fruit
#non-toxic for horses
#non-toxic for dogs
#non-toxic for cats
Similar Plants
Opuntia mesacantha Feature Summary
Attributes
Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay
Heat and drought tolerant.
The fruits are edible.
Perennial
Seed
Leaf Cutting
Fruit
The reddish-purple fruit is pear shaped and displays from August to December.
Red/Burgundy
Purple/Lavender
1-3 inches
1-3 inches
Flowers
Blooms from April to June with 3-4" yellow to deep orange-brown blooms that are reddish at the outer portion.
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
Brown/Copper
Orange
Spring
3-6 inches
Leaves
The leaves are stem segments that are tapered near the gase.
Broadleaf Evergreen
Green
Oblong
Obovate
> 6 inches
3-6 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Shrub
Native Plant
Succulent
Broadleaf Evergreen
Coarse
Prickles
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
Occasionally Dry
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Stem
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Butterfly Garden
Accent
Drought
Container
Patio
Pool/Hardscape
Butterflies
Songbirds
Bees
Small Mammals
Spines/Thorns
Opuntia mesacantha Image Gallery
Opuntia mesacantha Attributes
Opuntia mesacantha: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)
Heat and drought tolerant.
Opuntia mesacantha: Edibility
The fruits are edible.
Opuntia mesacantha: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Opuntia mesacantha: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Opuntia mesacantha Fruit
Opuntia mesacantha: Fruit Description
The reddish-purple fruit is pear shaped and displays from August to December.
Opuntia mesacantha: Fruit Color
Purple/Lavender
Red/Burgundy
Opuntia mesacantha: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Opuntia mesacantha: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Opuntia mesacantha: Fruit Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Opuntia mesacantha Flowers
Opuntia mesacantha: Flower Description
Blooms from April to June with 3-4" yellow to deep orange-brown blooms that are reddish at the outer portion.
Opuntia mesacantha: Flower Color
Brown/Copper
Gold/Yellow
Orange
Red/Burgundy
Opuntia mesacantha: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Opuntia mesacantha: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Opuntia mesacantha Leaves
Opuntia mesacantha: Leaf Description
The leaves are stem segments that are tapered near the gase.
Opuntia mesacantha: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Opuntia mesacantha: Leaf Color
Green
Opuntia mesacantha: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Opuntia mesacantha: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Opuntia mesacantha: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Opuntia mesacantha: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Opuntia mesacantha Whole Plant Traits
Opuntia mesacantha: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Opuntia mesacantha: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Opuntia mesacantha: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Opuntia mesacantha: Appendage
Prickles
Spines
Tendrils
Thorns
Opuntia mesacantha Cultural Conditions
Opuntia mesacantha: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Opuntia mesacantha: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Opuntia mesacantha: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Opuntia mesacantha: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Opuntia mesacantha Stem
Opuntia mesacantha: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Opuntia mesacantha Landscape
Opuntia mesacantha: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Opuntia mesacantha: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Opuntia mesacantha: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Opuntia mesacantha: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Opuntia mesacantha: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
Opuntia mesacantha: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
