Plains Pricklypear

Opuntia polyacantha Haw.

Cactus family

Plant Type

Shrub

Life Cycle

Perennial

Mature Height

24 inches

Spread

12.0 feet

Flower Color

Yellow

Bloom Time

Late Spring

Growing Conditions

Light

Shade Tolerance Intolerant

Water

Water Use Low

Drought Tolerance High

Flood Tolerance None

Soil

Soil Types Clay, Loam, Sand

CaCO3 Tolerance High

Fertility Need Low

Stress Tolerance

Fire Tolerance None

Salt Tolerance None

Climate

pH Range 7.0 – 8.8

Frost-Free Days 200 days

Precipitation 10 – 20 in

Ecosystem & Wildlife

Pollinators Native Bees; Beetles, Wasps, Flies; Butterflies; Larval Host (Moth)

Larval Host Melitara dentata, Olycella subumbrella

Fall Color No

Evergreen Yes

Native Range

CAN: Alberta, Saskatchewan
USA: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wyoming
MEX: Mexico Northeast

Regional Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

State-level native status is based on data available through Plants of the World Online. Regional Native Status comes from the USDA Plants Database. For more detailed native status information, please refer to BONAP.