James H. Schutte
Family
Cactaceae
Botanical Name
Opuntia microdasys var. albospina
Plant Common Name
Angel's Wings, Bunny Ears Pricklypear
General Description
A lack of long conspicuous spines make this smaller prickly pear look soft and safe, but it wields many tiny hairlike bristles called glochids that are ferociously painful to the touch.
Bunny ears pricklypear is native to hills and ridges in the Chihuahua Desert of north-central Mexico. There, it typically grows in sandy or loamy, alkaline soil. This cactus has pads of soft green dotted with puffy clusters of white glochids. Although superficially resembling leaves (and treated as such in the following list of characteristics), the pads are actually modified stem segments. It flowers in spring with large yellow waxy blooms that draw many types of insect pollinators. Small, round, rose-colored fruits follow. This pricklypear eventually forms an upright or spreading, waist-high shrub.
Cacti become dormant in winter due to lack of light and require little to no water during those months. In summer they grow quickly and ask for both regular water and fertilizer provided soil mixes are very porous. Modest size and colorful glochids have made this species a popular potted specimen indoors and out. Due to the fuzzy look of this plant be doubly careful to keep it out of reach from children.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
12 - 9
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USDA Hardiness Zone
9 - 12
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Sunset Zone
12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Cactus or Succulent
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun
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Height
12"-36" / 30.5cm - 91.4cm
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Width
3'-5' / 0.9m - 1.5m
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Bloom Time
Spring
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Native To
Mexico
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Loam, Sand
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Tolerances
Drought
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Growth Rate
Slow
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Water Requirements
Xeric/Desert, Drought Tolerant
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Habit
Spreading
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
Yellow, Peach
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Fruit Color
Red
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Green
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Green
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
Yes
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Edible Fruit
Yes
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Bold
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
Yes
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Showy Bark
No
