Eastern prickly pear
Opuntia humifusa (Raf.) Raf.
Also called eastern prickly pear.
Low, sprawling native cactus of eastern sand dunes and rock outcrops, with silky yellow flowers in early summer. Pads shrivel in winter and plump again in spring.
Size over time
Typical landscape size 0.2–0.3 m (0–1 ft) tall and 0.3–0.9 m (1–3 ft) wide; medium growth, about 5 years to maturity. Intermediate sizes use the planner’s growth curve (k = 0.25) from the #5 install size.
Bloom
Yellow flowers, Jun–Jul (northern-hemisphere months; timing shifts with region and season).
| Plant | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern prickly pear : Jun–Jul |
Design notes
- Needs sharp drainage and full sun.
- Glochids are irritating — wear gloves.
Regions
Native range: Eastern U.S., from Massachusetts to Florida.
Native to these OpenLandscape3D pilot regions:
Native status describes where the species occurs naturally. It is not a promise that it suits a particular garden; site conditions decide that.
Related plants
Plan with Eastern prickly pear
Place it in a design, check it against your zone, light and moisture, and see it at year three and year ten.