Opuntia Species, Prickly Pear Cactus, Blind Pear, Blind Prickly Pear, Cow Blinder

Beautiful lime green pads with red glochids, rots easily so it needs very good drainage but has made it here in zone 7 through two winter...Read Mores and a very wet spring. Is rather slow growing for an opuntia so far.

This prickly pear seems oblivious to poor soil conditions. It's thriving in a local area where several other opuntia are suffering. ...Read More />
I learned today that it got it's name from blinding cattle with it's glochids. The tiny spines get into their eyes when they get too close and blind them. O. rufida doesn't have the longer spines that would keep the cattle at bay.