The Pervasive Prickly Pear Cactus

Did you know?

The Prickly Pear Cactus seems to be everywhere. They have been referred to by some as the "Dandelion of the Desert." On my walks I encounter several varieties and find them fun to photograph, especially in that early morning light.

The prickly pear is in the Opuntia family (oh-PUNCHA) and is made up of flattish paddle-like segments of various shapes, joined as if a chain. Some can be very small  plants, and stay that way, while other varieties can grow very large and tall. Several of those along my walk are up to ten feet. The shapes of their paddles can vary from quite round or oval to very long, like donkey ears.

On close inspection, all have what look like warts on the paddles. Some have long spines coming out of these warts and some just have what look like fine tufts of hair. Trust me, those are nasty little hairs and you don't want to touch them.

These cactus bloom in February and March with yellow or pink flowers along the edges of their "paddles." The flowers then turn into fruit by fall, which can be harvested and eaten using a variety of recipes.

In Green Valley, and many places where it is important to have drought resistant landscaping in yards, prickly pear cactus are one of the common plantings. Some of the pictures here were taken in yards, and others in common areas.

Believe it or not, there are animals that find the prickly pear tasty meals. In particular, the havalina or javelina, which are pig-like desert dwellers that live in our area, come by at night and can cause a lot of damage by eating the cactus and pulling them up. 

What we can't understand is what took the big bites out of this prickly pear inside the gate in our entry way. Maybe we will never know.

That is all for now,
Grace - out and about with an iPhone 6s

Prickly Pear blossoms in spring.

Prickly Pear with long spines

Prickly pear without spines

What is eating this prickly pear inside our entry gate???