Beavertail Prickly Pear Cactus - 3 Gallon Pot
$55.98
Sale price
$55.98
Regular price
$66.00
Skip to product information
Prickly Pear Cactus is exceptionally easy to grow in a very well-drained soil of average to low fertility and full to mostly sun. We suggest at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. It prefers a sandy to gritty soil that is sharply drained. Wet soil is a killer. No maintenance required except to remove a damaged leaf. Extremely drought and heat tolerant.
Beavertail Prickly Pear Cactus - 3 Gallon Pot
$55.98
Sale price
$55.98
Regular price
$66.00
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Description
Beavertail Prickly Pear Cactus
Opuntia basilaris
Other Names: Beavertail Cactus, Beavertail Prickly Pear, Nopal Del Castor
Plant Details
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 8a-10b Find Your Zone
Plant Type: Evergreen Cactus
Height at Maturity: 1.5-2'
Width at Maturity: 5'+
Spacing: 10' or more for space between plants
Growth Habit / Form: Spreading
Growth Rate: Slow
Flower Color: Pink to Magenta
Flower Size: 2-2.5"
Flowering Period: Spring
Flower Type: Single
Fragrant Flowers: Slight
Foliage Color: Blue-ish Green to Grey Green w/ Glochids
Fragrant Foliage: No
Berries/Fruit: Yes
Berry Color: Reddish to Purple
Sun Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Sun; 6 hours or more of direct sunlight
Water Needs: Low
Soil Type: Sandy, Gritty; Prefers dry, sandy soils
Soil Moisture / Drainage: Well Drained Damp or Dry; extremely drought tolerant when established
Soil pH: 6.2 - 8.2 (Moderately Acid to Moderately Alkaline)
Maintenance / Care: Very Low to None
Attracts: Hummingbirds, Moths and Butterflies, Visual Attention
Resistances: Deer, Disease, Drought Dry Soil, Heat, Insects
Description
The Opuntia basilaris, commonly known as Prickly Pear Cactus, is a North American native indigenous to the Southwest U.S. and Mexico, however can be grown year round outdoors in USDA Zones 8a to 11. It is typically found growing in arid plains and valleys within sandy or rocky soils. Pads take on an oval to roundish shape with a beautiful, soft blue-grey to greyish-green and purple skin. Its multicolored pads are a result of the presence of betacyanins pigments. The pads coloration tend to vary with changing temperatures. The exotic looking pink to magenta flowers are a sight to behold and bloom from spring to early summer. This cactus is exceptionally heat and drought tolerant and cold hardy to 10F. Otherwise, if you live in a location where temperatures drop below 10F, plant in a pot that you can overwinter indoors. Excellent for rock gardens and xeriscaping (low water needs) where it is sure to be a conversation piece.
Landscape & Garden Uses
Growing to around 2 feet tall and 5 or more feet wide over time, the Prickly Pear Cactus is ideal for use as a specimen in sunny landscape borders and rock gardens. Can also we grown in pots that can be situated outdoors or indoors, just make sure to provide at least 6 hours of bright light or more per day in an interior environment. A fine addition to rock gardens and the Xeriscape Gardens (low water needs when established). We like combining Prickly Pear with other low water need plants such as yucca, junipers, barberry, abelia, ornamental grasses, loropetalum and other succulent plants to name a few.
Suggested Spacing: 10 feet or more apart for space between plants
Growing Preferences
Note: Plant as you would a Yucca. For helpful advice provided by our experts, click on the Planting & Care tab above on desktops and below on mobile phones.
Plant Long & Prosper!
Meet The Wilson Brothers & Staff
Questions? Contact Us
Care
To maintain the beauty and integrity of your purchase, we recommend treating it with care. Simple maintenance practices, such as gentle washing and proper storage, can effectively preserve the longevity of your favorites. We encourage you to refer to the care instructions included with each item, designed to help you keep your purchase in top condition.
Design
Our dedication to excellence extends beyond materials; it encompasses the artistry and craftsmanship illustrated in every piece we create.