Opuntia Species, Big Root Prickly Pear, Delicate Prickly Pear, Plains Prickly Pear

In the wild, certain characteristics vary from plant to plant. Some almost completely spineless forms have been reported, which are ofte...Read Moren confused with Opuntia humifusa. O. humifusa usually does not have the red flower throat of O. macrorhiza, though. It is one of the most common species of prickly pear in america; found in almost every state. It is very easy to care for in the garden, and is easily propagated by cuttings.

Probably the easiest hardy Opuntia to grow in the East, tolerating almost any abuse except total shade. However, the plants are extremel...Read Morey difficult to handle because of the numerous glochids and spines. USE GLOVES!!!

I have these in the ground. The ones I have are big and beefy, with a slight powdery dull look to the. Winter doesnt faze them. The

Another synonym of this plant is Opuntia compressa var. macrorhiza.

Naturally found in the southwestern and midwestern U.S...Read More.
The spines and pads are used medicinally.
The 'macrorhiza' variety has a less waxy, dull appearance than the 'pottsii' variety.
The pads on the 'macrorhiza' variety are larger up to 4 inches in length, while the pads of the 'pottsii' variety only reach 2.5 inches in length.
The 'macrorhiza' variety has only basically yellow flowers with red bases, and the 'pottsii' variety has the more reddish flowers.
The 'macrorhiza' variety is the most prevalent in the wild.