Scientific Name
Nopalea cochenillifera f. variegata
Accepted Scientific Name
Nopalea cochenillifera (L.) Salm-Dyck
Common Name(s)
Warm Hand Cactus, Velvet Cactus
Synonym(s)
Nopalea cochenillifera f. variegata, Opuntia cochenillifera f. variegata, Opuntia cochenillifera 'Variegata'
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Opuntioideae
Genus: Nopalea
Description
Nopalea cochenillifera 'Variegata' is a rare spineless cactus with fleshy flattened modified stems often referred to as pads or leaves. It grows up to 4 feet (1.2 m) tall and up to 20 inches (50 cm) wide. The pads can reach up to 6 inches (15 cm) tall. They have an attractive green and yellow variegation.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 9a to 11b: from 20 °F (−6.7 °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, 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 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 cactus is a selected variegated form of Nopalea cochenillifera.
Links
- Back to genus Nopalea
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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