Opuntia Species, Coastal Prickly Pear, Erect Pricklypear Cactus, Yaaxpakan

The World Conservation Union has included this species in their list of 100 of the world's worst invasive species, one of only 32 terrest...Read Morerial species so singled out. [HYPERLINK@www.k-state.edu]

In the US, its native range is widely scattered from Texas to Virginia and coastal Florida. In Florida, it has been declared "Threatened".

It is also native to eastern Mexico, central America, northern South America, and the islands of the Caribbean.
Outside its native range, it has often proved invasive, as in Sri Lanka, South Africa, and Australia. In Australia, this has been a classic success story, as its invasiveness there was tamed through biological control strategies.

Opuntia stricta, commonly known as Erect Prickly Pear, is a nearly spineless form of prickly pear cactus. We call it Unprickly Pear. It...Read More doesn't even have to be planted, but can make new growths just from a cutting of a flat, rounded platyclade laid on top of the ground. It has lemon yellow flowers in the spring and summer, followed by purplish-red fruits called figs. The blooms only last a day or two, and they are almost translucent. The plant is cold and drought tolerant. Opuntia can spread into large clonal colonies, which can be considered a noxious weed if you don't cut them back. Many homeowners use this plant in their xeroscapes. It has many uses besides landscaping, including medicinal, dyes, food and candy making.

Flowers are yellow to a yellowish-orange. This species has been widespread by humankind and has become to be considered a noxious weed in...Read More some areas. (but not all). It can still be utilized as a landscape plant if kept trimmed.
Originating from Southeastern USA, eastern Mexico and Cuba.

Addditional synonyms include: Opuntia inermis, Opuntia ochrocentra var. inermis, Opuntia vulgaris var. balaerica, Consolea bahamana & Opuntia airampo.