Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia Humifusa) – 3 Gallon Pot

The cold hardy Eastern Prickly Pear has the largest range of any Cactus in the United States, thriving in USDA Zone 4a to 9b to as far north as Massachusetts across to Montana and down to New Mexico and across to Florida. It is a typical cactus with a photosynthetic stem that acts as a leaf and stores water, which is what makes it so super drought tolerant and able to grow is sandy, gritty and rocky soils. Because of the special antifreeze chemicals in its cells, it can survive temperatures as low as -30F. The leaves, or pads as they are often called, can be up to 7 inches long and 5 inches wide and are jointed in a linear or branched fashion. The plant itself grows to about 1.5 to 2 feet tall and spreads slowly to 5 feet or more over time, which makes it a fine selection for a specimen or groundcover or to cascade over walls. Very pretty cup-shaped yellow flowers to 3 inches wide are produced at the ends of pads in late spring to early summer. The flowers are followed by red to purplish red edible fruits. The pads are also edible. Extremely drought and salt tolerant, the Eastern Prickly Pear is easy-to-grow and sure to be a year-round conversation piece in the garden. Just make sure to plant it in well drained soil as constantly soggy soils are a killer.

Suggested Spacing:  3 to 4 feet apart as a groundcover; 10 feet or more apart for space between plants

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