Scientific Name
Maihueniopsis darwinii (Hensl.) F.Ritter
Common Name(s)
Darwin's Cactus
Synonym(s)
Maihueniopsis darwinii var. darwinii, Opuntia darwinii, Tephrocactus darwinii
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Opuntioideae
Tribe: Tephrocacteae
Genus: Maihueniopsis
Description
Maihueniopsis darwinii is a mat-forming cactus with joined olive-green stem segments. It grows up to 4 inches (10 cm) tall. The stems segments are egg-shaped and up to 1.2 inches (3 cm) in diameter. They have 4 to 6 needle-like, up to 1.6 inches (4 cm) long spines per areole. The solitary flowers are dirty yellow-orange, up to 2.4 inches (6 cm) in diameter, and appear from late spring to early summer.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 10a to 11b: from 30 °F (−1.1 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Though the large variety of species within the Opuntia genus means different Prickly Pears may need slightly different care. All are desert cacti that need lots of sun, light, and very little water. So 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 they can also be grown in pots. To repot, ensure the soil is dry, remove the pot and knock away 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, make sure not to water a newly repotting 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 that the wounds heal. Then place the plants in dry soil and refrain from watering them until they begin to grow to avoid rotting them.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Opuntia.
Origin
This species is native to Argentina and Chile.
Links
- Back to genus Maihueniopsis
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
Photo Gallery
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