Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

A species of prickly pear cactus known by the common name coastal prickly pear. Commonly confused with Opuntia semispinosa, which has longer, sometimes spineless pads. It is native to southern California and Baja California, where it grows in coastal sage scrub and chaparral habitat. It generally occurs in dense clumps spreading several meters wide and up to a meter tall. It seldom hybridizes with Opuntia oricola. The branches are made up of orbicular flat segments up to 22 centimeters long. It is covered in clusters of yellowish spines 2 to 4 centimeters long. The flowers are yellow. The fruit is purplish red, up to 5 centimeters long, and less spiny than Opuntia oricola fruit. An important wildlife plant.

Plant type

Shrub, Succulent

Size

3 ft Tall

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Color

Yellow, Purple, Red

Flowering season

Spring

Special uses

Containers, Hedge

Sun

Full Sun

Water

Very Low

Ease of care

Easy

Soil drainage

Fast

Soil description

Prefers sand or sandstone.

Sunset Zones

14*, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22*, 23*, 24*

Site type

Slopes

Plant communities

Coastal Sage Scrub

Bees
Butterflies

Pollinators supported

1 confirmed and 93 likely

  • Likely

  • Confirmed

Marmara opuntiella

Angelic Sweat Bee

Agapostemon angelicus

Oblique Sweat Bee

Agapostemon obliquus

Texas Striped Sweat Bee

Agapostemon texanus

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Asparagus

Asparagus officinalis

Cotton

Gossypium

Bitter Melon

Momordica charantia

Persimmons (Diospyros virginiana)

Diospyros virginiana