Opuntia humifusa
Eastern Prickly Pear,
Low Prickly Pear
NJ Ecotype
Perennial cactus; 1-2ft tall
Large yellow flowers with long stamen; blooms late spring to summer
Flowers attract a wide range of pollinators including bumblebees, plasterer bees, wasps, ants, beetles, and hoverflies
Host plant to the Eastern-Cactus Boring Moth, Julia’s Dicymolomial Moth, and the Arge Tiger Moth
Fruit eaten by rabbits, deer, various song & game birds, bats, coyotes, boxturtles, and humans (bristles must first carefully be removed)
Incredibly drought resistant; perfect for full sun locations with well-drained soils
Forms dense colonies via re-rooted cactus pads & can also spread via seed; great option for container planting
Eastern Prickly Pear,
Low Prickly Pear
NJ Ecotype
Perennial cactus; 1-2ft tall
Large yellow flowers with long stamen; blooms late spring to summer
Flowers attract a wide range of pollinators including bumblebees, plasterer bees, wasps, ants, beetles, and hoverflies
Host plant to the Eastern-Cactus Boring Moth, Julia’s Dicymolomial Moth, and the Arge Tiger Moth
Fruit eaten by rabbits, deer, various song & game birds, bats, coyotes, boxturtles, and humans (bristles must first carefully be removed)
Incredibly drought resistant; perfect for full sun locations with well-drained soils
Forms dense colonies via re-rooted cactus pads & can also spread via seed; great option for container planting
Eastern Prickly Pear,
Low Prickly Pear
NJ Ecotype
Perennial cactus; 1-2ft tall
Large yellow flowers with long stamen; blooms late spring to summer
Flowers attract a wide range of pollinators including bumblebees, plasterer bees, wasps, ants, beetles, and hoverflies
Host plant to the Eastern-Cactus Boring Moth, Julia’s Dicymolomial Moth, and the Arge Tiger Moth
Fruit eaten by rabbits, deer, various song & game birds, bats, coyotes, boxturtles, and humans (bristles must first carefully be removed)
Incredibly drought resistant; perfect for full sun locations with well-drained soils
Forms dense colonies via re-rooted cactus pads & can also spread via seed; great option for container planting
Details
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Yellow, Orange
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Late Spring to Summer
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1-2ft
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Dry
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Full
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Eastern-Cactus Boring Moth, Julia’s Dicymolomial Moth, and the Arge Tiger Moth
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Not Classified
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No cold stratification necessary