Scientific Name
Opuntia microdasys var. albispina Fobe
Common Name(s)
Angel Wings, Polka Dots, Polka Dot Cactus, Honey Bunny, Bunny Ears, Alba Bunny Ears
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Opuntioideae
Tribe: Opuntieae
Genus: Opuntia
Description
Opuntia microdasys var. albispina is a freely clustering cactus with miniature pads with no spines but numerous white hair-like glochids arranged in dense clusters. It forms a dense shrub up to 2 feet (60 cm) tall and up to 5 feet (1.5 m) across.
The flowers are lemon yellow, up to 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter, followed by red fruits. They appear in summer.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 8b to 11b: from 15 °F (−9.4 °C) to 40 °F (+4.4 °C).
How to Grow and Care
A spot near a south-facing, unobstructed window will most likely meet Bunny Ears Cactus' need for bright, direct sun. Windows with western or eastern exposure run as the second and third choices. While an actively growing Bunny Ears Cactus tolerates indoor summer temperatures as high as 100 °F (38 °C), don't expect it to flower unless you also provide winter temperatures between 45 and 55 °F (7 and 13 °C). Regardless of the season, it likes humidity in the 10 to 30 percent range. Finally, if none of your windows provides adequate light, place the plant 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) below a cool white fluorescent tube for 14 to 16 hours each day.
The potting soil must drain quickly. Use a commercial cactus potting mix or mix your own. The best container for your cactus is a clay pot, just slightly larger and deeper than the plant's root system. It must have drainage holes because a pot without them or a pot that's too large could make proper watering impossible.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Opuntia.
Origin
Opuntia microdasys var. albispina is native to Mexico.
Links
- Back to genus Opuntia
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
Photo Gallery
Click on a photo to see a larger version.
