Scientific Name
Opuntia monacantha var. variegata
Accepted Scientific Name
Opuntia monacantha (Willd.) Haw.
Synonym(s)
Opuntia monacantha f. variegata, Opuntia vulgaris var. variegata (misapplied)
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Opuntioideae
Tribe: Opuntieae
Genus: Opuntia
Description
Opuntia monacantha var. variegata is a shrubby or tree-like cactus that grows up to 20 feet (6 m) tall. The stem segments are oblong to obovate, green with irregular markings in shades of white, cream, yellow, green, and sometimes pink. They are up to 12 inches (30 cm) long and up to 5 inches (12.5 cm) wide. The spines are brown and grey and up to 1.6 inches (4 cm) long. Flowers are yellow to deep orange-brown, with reddish outer perianth segments, up to 3 inches (4.5 cm) long and 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter.
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, 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 cactus is a variegated form of Opuntia monacantha previously regarded as a separate variety. It is one of the very few naturally occurring variegated cacti.
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.
