Prickly Pear Lemon Bunny Ears – Desert Horizon Nursery

Prickly Pear Lemon Bunny Ears

Opuntia microdasys
Categories:
Cacti & Succulents  ·  
Prickly Pear
Light
Full sun
Water
Low water; soak thoroughly, then let soil dry completely before watering again. Water sparingly in winter, especially during cool weather.
Size
2-3 ft tall × 3-4 ft wide
Habit
Prickly-pear/pad cactus
Toxicity
Non-toxic
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
Spring
Deciduous / Evergreen
Evergreen
Special Features
Drought Tolerant, Thorny / Spiny
Growth Rate
Slow to moderate
Growth Habit
Prickly-pear/pad cactus
Mature Size
2-3 ft tall × 3-4 ft wide
Flower Color
Yellow
Foliage Color
Green
Landscape Use
Border / Bed, Cactus / Succulent Garden, Container / Patio, Desert / Xeriscape
Garden Style
Container / Patio, Desert / Xeriscape
Soil
Sandy / Rocky
Companion Plants
Golden barrel cactus, Parry's agave, Red yucca, Santa Rita prickly pear
Non-toxic
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.