Eastern prickly pear is a perennial evergreen succulent subshrub in the cactus family (Cactaceae). This cactus is native to the eastern United States and Mexico and is found in dry, sandy, or rocky areas. It is a clump-forming or semi-prostrate cactus with flat, fleshy, green pads that have clusters of reddish-brown barbed bristles. This species measures 6 to 12 inches tall and 1 to 1.5 feet wide. The specific epithet, humifusa, is Latin and means prostrate or sprawling. It references the plant's growth habit. This plant needs full sun and is intolerant of shade or wet poorly drained soils. It does well in sandy or rocky soils and on slopes. It is very salt and drought-tolerant. The roots are shallow and fibrous. In the wild, the pads can break off easily and will root nearby. It may also be propagated by stem cuttings or seeds. The flattened segmented stems act as leaves and are flat, fleshy, green pads that are covered with clusters of barbed bristles. The oval-to-round segments can be 2 to 10 inches across. In early spring to early summer, large, waxy flowers are produced at the ends of the pads. They can occur solitary or in small groups and are yellow to gold with reddish centers. The fruit that follows is a fleshy edible green sphere that ripens to red or purple and persists on the stem giving winter interest. Eastern prickly pear ( Opuntia humifusa ) and southeastern prickly pear ( Opuntia mesacantha ) are frequently confused. Opuntia mesacantha has a few, long, pale spines that are up to 1 inch long. Opuntia humifusa does not have spines on its pads. Both species have barbed bristles (glochids) on the pads. The eastern prickly pear is widespread in the eastern United States. Grow this plant in pots, in borders, rock gardens, on slopes or dry meadow/prairie sites. Use caution when handling this plant because the bristles can get into the skin and cause irritation. Wear protective gloves. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant has no serious insect or disease problems. Root rot can occur in poorly drained soils. VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti," a plant identification course created in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Opuntia .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry | Very Dry
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Prostrate
Texture
Coarse
Hairs present
No
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
The large, waxy, yellow flowers are 2 to 3 inches across and have 8 to 12 petals with a dense clump of central stamens.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit value
Edible; Showy
Fruit size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Fruit detail
Oblong sessile fleshy fruits with concave apices mature from green to red or purple in late summer. They are edible and either bland, sour or sweet and may persist on the stem through winter.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
The flattened segmented oval-to-round pads also act as leaves and can be 2-10 inches across. They have small, barbed bristles (glochids) embedded in wooly hairs and may have straight spines also.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Eastern and central USA into Ontario
Distribution
Native: United States-- AL, CT, DE, DC, KY, MD, MA, MS, NH, NJ, NY, PA, VA, and WV; Mexico Northeast; Introduced: Austria, Bulgaria, Central European Russia, China North-Central, East Himalaya, France, Free State, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Korea, Lebanon-Syria, Lesotho, Netherlands, New South Wales, North Caucasus, Queensland, South Australia, Spain, Switzerland, Transcaucasus, Victoria, Western Australia, and Yugoslavia.
Wildlife value
Birds and Box Turtles will eat the fruits. Bees are attracted to the flowers.