Opuntia

Opuntia are the ubiquitous "Prickly Pears" of the western US and Mexico.  This very large genius has allies from South America to Canada and some of these are the most cold hardy of all cacti.

Opuntia Cuttings are $6.00 unless otherwise noted.

OP001: Opuntia debreczyi ‘Apache’  A compact, mounding cushion plant with long, dense spicy red spines.  I have not seen the flowers yet.  8” high by 12” wide.  Zone 3.  Claude Barr selection.  I would guess it’s a fragilis, rutila hybrid.  Beautiful!

OP002: Opuntia polyacantha v. hystricina ‘Bernalillo’  Very short white spines on a compact, tidy plant.  Single, lemon yellow flowers are scarce!  But, the spination and habit is gorgeous!  4” high by 18” wide.  Zone 5.  Collected by David Salman in New Mexico.

OP003: Opuntia cymochila   Deep golden flowers in June, vigorous and long-blooming.  18” high by 48” wide.  Zone 4.  Collected by David Salman in South Dakota.  Elongated, light red fruit

OP004: Opuntia polyacantha v. polyacantha x fragilis ‘Claude Arno’   Abundant, deep rose flowers in June on very compact, petite plant.  4” high by 18” wide.  Zone 3.  Dry fruit.  Claude Barr Selection.

OP005: Opuntia davisii 'Copper King'  Gorgeous, coppery-gold spines on short, finger-like stems.  This plant shimmers in the sunlight.  18” high by 36” wide.  Zone 5.  Deep green flowers and green fruit are not showy.  Stems detach easily so plant away from traffic.

OP006: Opuntia ‘Dark Knight’  Brilliant fuchsia flowers in June on rich purple pads.  It’s the best dark padded variety I’ve seen.  10” high by 48” wide.  Zone 4.  Claude Barr selection.  A beautiful specimen for landscaping.

OP007: Opuntia ‘East Meets West’ (O. fragilis/humifusa hybrid) A compact, mounding cushion-type plant with golden flowers in June.  Moderate spination.  8” high by 12” wide.  Zone 3.  (Kelly Grummons selection, 2003).  May tolerate more water than most Western species.

OP008: Opuntia ‘Mesa Melon’  I would have to say that this plant from Don Campbell in Grand Junction, CO took my breath away when I first saw it.  The enormous pads covered with short spines sport big, gorgeous, watermelon colored flowers in June.  Slender, reddish fruit in September.  Thought to be a John Cipra hybrid.  12” high by 60” wide.  Zone 5.  Western Colorado.

OP009: Opuntia phaeacantha x pinkavae ‘Nambe Sunrise’.  Double, soft pink flowers in June.  Pads are purple in winter and lavender in summer.  8” high by 24” wide.  Zone 5.  Collected at Plants of the Southwest Nursery in Santa Fe, NM.  Dry fruit.

OP010: Opuntia gilvescens  ‘Oklahoma Pancake’ (Pancake Cactus)  The thin pads are quite spherical and up to 8” across.  Single yellow flowers in June followed by juicy lavender fruit.  15” high by 36” wide.  Zone 5/6.  Collected by Al Frost in Oklahoma. 

OP011: Opuntia rhodantha ‘Chinle’.  Rich peachy/pink double flowers in June look like water lilies on a tidy, well-behaved plant.  Large numbers of flowers make this a favorite garden variety.  Formally Opuntia "Peach" Zone 5.

OP012: Opuntia cymochila x fragilis ‘Smithwick’  Named after Claude Barr’s home town.  An apparent fragilis hybrid (I get the feeling that he used fragilis for its compactness and other species for other characteristics) with golden spines and yellow flowers.  5” high by 24” wide.  Zone 3. 

OP013: Opuntia rhodantha ‘‘Snowball’  (O. phaeacantha/basilaris hybrid?)  Attained from Don Campbell in 1990.  Creamy white near-double flowers in June.  Modest spines and a compact habit.  Likely a John Cipra hybrid. 10” high by 48” wide.  Zone 5.

                         SOLD OUT!! We are working on growing more.  Watch this space.
OP014: Opuntia ‘Super Rutila’  (Natural hybrid) One of the best RED flowering Opuntias from Claude Barr’s collection.  The rutilas, a diverse wild hybrid group from western Colorado make good garden plants.  Slightly flattened, cylindrical stems and deep reddish-pink flowers in June.  Compact habit.  6” high by 24” wide.  Zone 4.  Dry fruit.

   SOLD OUT!! We are working on growing more.  Watch this space.
OP015: Opuntia polyacantha ‘Taylor’s Red’  The reddest polyacantha that I’ve seen.  Collected by Allan Taylor near Cheyenne-Wells, Colorado.  Uniformly cloaked in 1 inch long white spines.  Tomato-red flowers in June.  8” high by 48” wide. 

OP016: Opuntia imbricata v. arborescens (Colorado Tree Cholla)  The largest cactus species in Colorado (60” high by 72” wide).  Reddish-rose flowers in July followed by green fruit.  An important landscape plant.  Suitable for culture in large pots.  Zone 5.

OP017: Opuntia imbricata v. arborescens ‘Fred’s Red’  Another choice selection of the Colorado Tree Cholla with rosy-red blossoms in July.  Discovered by Fred Becker in Colorado.  60” high by 72” wide.  Zone 5.

OP018: Opuntia imbricata v. arborescens ‘Giant Form’  A vigorous strain with internode growth twice the size of the Colorado strain.  Very thick stems.  Rose-red flowers.  This plant crests (fasciates) readily.  72” high and wide.  Zone 5.  Susceptible to damage by heavy snow.  Believed to be from West Texas.

OP019: Opuntia imbricata v. arborescens ‘White Tower’ (White Flowered Tree Cholla)  Crisp, white blossoms with green centers on a plant found by Mary Ann Heacock in Phantom Canyon, CO.  A “must” for any cacti collector.  60” high by 72” wide.  Zone 5.

OP020: Opuntia imbricata v. viridiflorus (Santa Fe Cholla)  An unusual form with LOVELY apricot and green flowers.  Found just north of Santa Fe, NM.  Zone 5.  3-4 feet high and wide.  Very rare.

OP021: Opuntia aurea ‘Coombe’s Winter Glow’ (Winter Glow Beavertail Cactus)  Smooth, spineless, spoon-shaped pads are deep wine-purple in winter.  Glowing, fuchsia-pink flowers in June.  One of the hardiest beaver tail types I’ve tried and the most beautiful.  8” high by 60” wide.  Dry fruit.  Tremendous landscape potential.

OP022: Opuntia rhodantha hybrid ‘Hanksville Rose’  Large, semi-double glowing pink flowers in June.  Large pads with a compact habit.  Compact, mounding, tidy form make it a handsome landscape plant.  A beavertail look-alike.  Probably a John Cipra hybrid. Short, uniform glochids.  Zone 5/6.

OP023: Opuntia clavata (cylindropuntia)   A low, creeping cholla from central New Mexico.  White, barbed spines are beautiful but treacherous.  4 inches high by 12 inches plus diameter.  Zone 5.  Bright yellow, single flowers in June, dry fruits.  If you would like to get abundant fruit set, order one of each “Clone 1” and “Clone 2” for better cross pollination

OP024: Opuntia leptocaulis (long-spined form)  Very thin, twiggy stems in a mass of long spines.  Green flowers followed by red fruit.  2-4 feet high and wide.  Zone 5.  This form from Davis Mountains, Texas (Heacock).

OP025: Opuntia erinacea v. columbiana (Columbia River Cat’s Paw Cactus) Yellow/apricot flowers in June.  Moderate sized plant, good groundcover, very spiny.  3” high by 24” wide.  Zone 5. (Collected by Dixie Dringman, Rock Island, WA).  Dry fruit. (Two clones available).  Sean Hogan suggests that it it Opuntia fragilis v. columbiana.

OP026: Opuntia fragilis (Spiny Cat’s Paw Cactus)  Simple yellow June flowers fade to apricot the second day.  The plant is small and compact.  3” high by 24” wide.  Zone 2/3.  Collected in Southern Wyoming by Kelly Grummons.  Dry fruit.

OP027: Opuntia fragilis ‘Alberta Sunset’ (Spineless Cat’s Paw Cactus)  Near-red flowers in June on a beautiful, dwarf cushion, very choice.  Plump, round pads.  No spines, tiny glochids.  4” high by 18” wide.  Zone 3.  (Claude Barr selection, Canada?) Dry fruit.

OP028: Opuntia fragilis ‘Black Cat’  This dark spined Cat’s Paw forms a tight mound.  The glossy, dark spines make a real show.  Yellow flowers in June.  6” high by 15” wide.  Zone 4.  (Don Campbell, Grand Junction, CO).

OP029: Opuntia fragilis ‘Nevada Cushion’ (Cat’s Paw Cactus)  Occasional yellow flowers on a spiny, very compact cushion in June.  Ideal in rock crevices and in troughs.  4” high by 18” wide.  Zone 3-4.  Mary Ann said it was collected in Nevada.

OP030: Opuntia fragilis (debreczyi) v. denuda (Potato Cactus)  Particularly globe-shaped, spherical stems make this selection unique.  Short glochids and occasional yellow flowers in June.  3” high by 12” wide.  A favorite of rock and trough gardeners.  Pads turn purple in winter.  Ideal as a root stock to use in grafting of difficult-to-grow species.  Zone 4.  Origin unknown. Typical of forms on the Colorado Plateau north into south-central Wyoming.  Obtained it from Don Campbell.

OP031: Opuntia fragilis (debreczyi) v. denuda (Spineless Cat’s Paw Cactus)  A true ground-covering type with glossy, nearly spineless flattened pads and abundant yellow (fading to apricot) flowers in June.  4” high by 36” wide!  Zone 4.  I acquired it from Mary Ann Heacock.  This plant gets more notice than almost any other in my garden.

OP032: Opuntia heacockii  A low profile species discovered by Mary Ann Heacock in 19—and described and named by Gerald Arp.  Compact to trailing growth, short spines, new growth can grow from roots (unique) and roots exhibit glochids.  Yellow flowers in June and dry fruits.  5” high by 24” wide.  Zone 3.  (Arkansas River Valley, CO)

OP033: Opuntia kleiniae (Pencil Cholla Tree Cactus)  An upright shrub with small pinkish flowers in July followed by abundant green fruit with a rosy shoulder.  5’ high and 4’ wide.  Zone 5.  Attained from Mary Ann Heacock.

OP034: Opuntia phaeacantha (Prickly Pear Cactus)  Lemon yellow flowers in June, vigorous grower, large, red, tasty fruit.  8” high by 36” wide.  Zone 3.  Collected in central Colorado.

OP035: Opuntia phaeacantha ‘Mesa Sky’  Abundant gold flowers with red stripes in the petals in June.  This vigorous grower has stunning, cinnamon spines, blue pads and TONS of gorgeous red pears.  It may well be the best native strain for fruit production.  12” high by 48” wide.  Zone 5.  Introduced by Denver Botanic Gardens.  Destined to be a favorite landscape variety due to its year around beauty. 

OP036: Opuntia phaeacantha ‘Persimmon’  A vigorous Claude Barr selection with peachy/coral flowers in June.  Very large pads on handsome plants.  15” high by 48” wide.  (Fergusen thinks this is one of John Cipra’s phaeacantha hybrids) Zone 5.  Large, red fruit.

OP037: Opuntia phaeacantha ‘Plum’ Another vigorous Claude Barr selection with peachy-plum flowers in June. Extra large pads have a glossy, purple cast during cooler months.  Handsome, long, reddish spines.  15” high by 48” wide. Fergusen thinks this is one of John Cipra’s phaeacantha hybrids. Zone 5.  Showy red fruit.

OP038: Opuntia polyacantha ‘Crystal Tide’  Near-white flowers with striking red stamens in June.  Compact habit with short, white spines.  6” high by 24” wide.  Zone 3.  Dry fruit.  Claude Barr selection.

OP039: Opuntia rhodantha hybrid ‘Grand Mesa Peach’  A compact, yet vigorous plant worthy of much acclaim.  Densely spined in gold and completely covered with double, rich peach flowers in June.  It’s what I would call a floribunda Opuntia.  8” high by 36” wide.  Zone 5.  Collected by Claude Barr in western Colorado.

    SOLD OUT!! We are working on growing more.  Watch this space.
OP040: Opuntia polyacantha ‘Nebraska Orange’  One of Claude Barr’s most exquisite selections.  Large, bright orange, satiny blossoms in June.  Vigorous growth.  10” high by 36” wide.  Zone 3.  Destined to be a favorite of collectors.  Dry fruit.

OP041: Opuntia cymochila x polyacantha ‘Pawnee’s Deep Pink’  Rich, deep pink flowers in June.  6” high by 24” wide.  Selected by Kelly Grummons in the Pawnee National Grasslands in eastern Colorado in 1990.  Zone 3.  Dry fruit.

OP042: Opuntia cymochila x polyacantha ‘Pawnee’s Green Rose’  Striking CHARTREUSE flowers with green centers in June.  6” high by 24” wide.  Selected by Mary Ann Heacock in the Pawnee National Grasslands in eastern Colorado in 1990.  One of her favorite selections. Zone 3.  Dry fruit.

OP043: Opuntia polyacantha ‘Peter Pan’  A non-flowering, perpetual juvenile form.  Snow white, short spines on small pads, 1” wide by 3” long.  The tight, carpeting cushion is 3” high by 24 inches wide.  Zone 3.  Great in the rock garden or in troughs.  Kelly Grummons collection from the Pawnee National Grasslands in eastern Colorado in 1990.

OP044: Opuntia polyacantha v. juniperina (Juniper Prickly Pear)  Vibrant VIOLET-RED flowers in June on wandering, sparse plants.  6” high by 36” wide.  Zone 4.  Mary Ann Heacock selection from southern CO.

   SOLD OUT!! We are working on growing more.  Watch this space.
OP045: Opuntia polyacantha v. polyacantha ‘Wavy Gravy’  Large, bold, wavy, crested pads.  Many of the gold flowers are crested too!  Remove normal growth to preserve a beautiful specimen.  6” high by 18” wide.  Mary Ann Heacock selection, found in Phantom Canyon area, CO.

OP046: Opuntia whipplei (Whipple’s Cholla)  A wonderful shrubby cactus from Utah with finger-sized stems and lots of spines.  Small, chartreuse flowers in June.  36” high by 60” wide.  Zone 5.

OP047: Opuntia whipplei 'Snow Leopard' (Silver Cholla)  Shimmering, silvery-white, dense spines make this cholla practically glow in the dark!  It will be the most spectacular specimen in your garden.  Yellow flowers in June.  36” high by 60” wide.  Zone 5.  From Don Campbell in Grand Junction, CO.

OP048: Opuntia imbricata v. arborescens 'Taylor's Santa Fe Red' Selected near Santa Fe, NM by Allan Taylor. Flowers much redder than the species. 60" high by 72" wide. Zone 5.

OP049: Opuntia kleiniae x leptocaulis A naturally occurring hybrid from west Texas (Davis Mountains). Much like O. kleiniae but with much longer spines. Spines are golden. Plant is rapid-growing (48" high by 72" wide). Flower color is unknown. Believed to be a triploid (sterile). Zone 5/6.

OP050: Opuntia arenaria An attractive little cactus from southern New Mexico along the Rio Grande. Small pads about 4 inches long with downward angled white spines. Yellow flowers and dry fruit. 6" high by 24" wide. Needs to be grown with perfect drainage. Zone 5.

   SOLD OUT!! We are working on growing more.  Watch this space.
OP051: Opuntia brachyclada. I call this the "Blue Gumby Cactus". The pads are very blue and the size and shape of a slightly flattened large finger.  The flower color is a clear, light pink.  Small, cinnamon-colored glochids. 6" high by 18" wide. Very attractive. Flower color unknown. Zone 5.

OP052: Opuntia aurea (Dwarf form) Small pads, 3" across with few spines. Lovely yellow flowers in June and dry fruit. A very attractive plant for rock gardens or in containers. 5" high by 18" wide. Zone 5.


OP053: Opuntia hybrid 'Red Gem' An apparent hybrid between basilaris or aurea with fragilis! The small, round, 2-3" wide pads have very short spines and are fragile (pads break off easily). The petite, deep pinkish red flowers in June are abundant. Beautiful in the rock garden or in containers.  Fergusen thinks this MAY be Opuntia polyacantha v. schweriniana…still a mystery. 4" high by 18" wide. Zone 4.

OP054: Opuntia macrocentra The "Purple Prickly Pear" has large yellow flowers that are red inside. The June flowers produce beautiful, large purple/red fruit. Long black spines along top of purplish pads. SW New Mexico. 18" high by 36" wide. Zone 6.

OP055:   Opuntia polyacantha x fragilis ‘Lemon Gem’   From our friend Steve Miles, collected in northern New Mexico.  Very low-profile plant with small pads and a sheet of lemon chiffon colored flowers in June.  4 inches high and 24 inches wide.  Zone 4.

   SOLD OUT!! We are working on growing more.  Watch this space.
OP056:   Opuntia polyacantha ‘Citrus Punch’  from Two Buttes in southeast Colorado has red, copper and gold spines with flowers of plum, orange and peach.  It’s quite a showstopper.  8 inches high by 36 inches wide.  Limited supply $10 each.

                          SOLD OUT!! We are working on growing more.  Watch this space.
OP057:   Opuntia nicolii (probably in reality a polyacantha and basilaris cross)  This form has amazingly translucent, cinnamon-red spines and deep pink flowers in June.  A vigorous form 12 inches high and 60 inches wide.  Zone 4.  (Steve Miles).

OP058:    Opuntia sanguinicola   A nearly spineless shrubby cactus from Central Texas.  Bright yellow flowers and large, red fruit.  A nice clean look for the landscape.  Zone 6.  24 inches high, 60 inches wide.

OP059:    Opuntia polyacantha v. erinacea (Mohave variety)  has large pads with dense, even red spines and cup-shaped bright rose-pink flowers in June.  Dry fruit.  12 inches high by 30 inches wide.  A very handsome plant.  Zone 4.

OP060:   Opuntia rhodantha ‘Drama Queen’  a low-profile, vigorous ground cover type literally covered with deep, fuchsia pink flowers in June.  You can see this plant a mile away when she’s in flower.  It received great acclaim this year.  8 inches high by 48 inches wide.  Zone 4.  (Steve Miles).

OP061:    Opuntia rhodantha ‘Oranges and Lemons’  is a spectacular new variety that one day is all lemon yellow and the next day it’s lemon and orange!  6 inches high by 36 inches wide.  Boulder County, CO.  (Steve Miles).

OP062:   Opuntia macrorhiza  A low, carpeting form that reminds me of O. humifusa.  A carpet of golden yellow flowers and abundant, slender red fruit.  6 inches high by 36” wide.  Boulder County, CO.  Zone 4.  (Steve Miles).

OP063:   Opuntia aurea ‘Golden Carpet’  A spineless form with tiny glochids on blue-gray pads.  Bright yellow flowers are one of the earliest to appear and one of the last to finish of all species.  A low, prostrate variety that always draws a great deal of attention.  Often reblooms in July.  6 inches high by 36 inches wide.  Zone 5. 

OP064:   Opuntia polyacantha ‘Gold Mine’  The most brilliant, deep gold form I’ve seen.  Very large, full flowers often turn deep orange the second day.  8 inches high by 36 inches wide.  Slow growing and choice.  Zone 4.  (Unknown origin).

OP065:   Opuntia sp. 'Little Monk' A compact , mounding cushion plant with petite golden flowers in June. 4" high x 12" wide. Zone 3. Wonderful in pots or the rock garden! Steve Miles selection, north of Santa Fe, NM.

OP066:   Opuntia fragilis 'Little Grey Mound' A VERY compact plant. Little yellow flowers in June. Cinnamon colored spines. Purple/blue pads in winter. Beautiful! Excellent in pots and in the rock garden. 3" high x 12" wide. Zone 3.


OP067:   Opuntia humifusa 'Inermis' The Eastern Prickly Pear has delicate, single, lemon yellow flowers in mass in June. Glossy, deep green pads are virtually SPINELESS. Abundant red, juicy fruit in fall. 6" high by 24" wide. Zone 4 Tolerates more water that other species. Eastern US.