Prickly Pear Lemon Bunny Ears – Desert Horizon Nursery

Prickly Pear Lemon Bunny Ears

Opuntia microdasys
Categories:
Light
Water
Low water; soak thoroughly, then let soil dry completely before watering again. Water sparingly in winter, especially during cool weather.
Toxicity
Description
A compact, shrubby cactus with oval green pads dotted with lemon-yellow clusters of tiny barbed bristles called glochids, creating a bunny-ear appearance.
Bloom Time
Deciduous / Evergreen
Special Features
Growth Rate
Flower Color
Foliage Color
Non-toxic; glochids cause mechanical skin and eye irritation.
Care Instructions

Light: Full morning sun with light afternoon shade in Phoenix; acclimate gradually to direct sun and avoid intense reflected heat.

Water: Low water; soak thoroughly, then let soil dry completely before watering again. Water sparingly in winter, especially during cool weather.

Soil: Excellent drainage is essential; use gritty cactus soil with pumice or coarse mineral material. In heavy soil, plant on a raised mound.

Mature size: Typically 2–3 feet tall and 3–4 feet wide.

Bloom: May bloom in late spring to early summer on mature, established plants; flowering is often sparse in containers.

Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen.

Growth rate: Slow to moderate with warmth and occasional deep watering.