Scientific Name
Austrocylindropuntia lagopus (K.Schum.) I.Crook, J.Arnold & M.Lowry
Synonym(s)
Opuntia lagopus, Austrocylindropuntia malyana, Punotia lagopus, Opuntia malyana, Tephrocactus lagopus, Maihueniopsis lagopus
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Opuntioideae
Tribe: Austrocylindropuntieae
Genus: Austrocylindropuntia
Origin
Austrocylindropuntia lagopus is native to Peru.
Description
Austrocylindropuntia lagopus is a cactus with cylindrical stems with fine, creamy-yellowish hair arising from areoles. It can reach a height of 2 feet (60 cm) and a diameter of 3.3 feet (1 m) and form a dense cushion over time. The stems can grow up to 1 foot (30 cm) long. The leaves are green and can measure up to 0.3 inches (0.8 cm) long. In habitat, the leaves are almost entirely hidden in the hair. The yellow spines can grow up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) long.
The flowers are diurnal, golden yellow, and can reach up to 1.2 inches (3 cm) long.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 9a to 11b: from 20 °F (−6.7 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
The large variety of species within the Opuntia genus means that different Prickly Pears may need slightly different care. All are desert cacti that require lots of sun, lots of light, and very little water. If you live in a hot, arid area, these plants can generally be planted outside, left alone, and enjoyed.
These cacti will grow just fine in a garden but can also be grown in pots. To repot, ensure the soil is dry, remove the pot, and remove the old soil. After treating any cuts with fungicide, place the cactus in a new pot and backfill it with potting soil. As with a new cutting, do not water a newly repotted Prickly Pear for a brief period to avoid rotting its roots.
Opuntia can propagate either by cuttings or by seed. To propagate by cuttings, sever pads from a plant and let them dry so the wounds heal. Then, place the plants in dry soil and refrain from watering them until they begin to grow to avoid rotting them.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Opuntia.
Links
- Back to genus Austrocylindropuntia
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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