Angel's-Wings

Opuntia microdasys (oh-POON-tee-ah my-kro-DAS-is)

Family: Cactaceae Unknown Shrub (3-15 ft)

Bunny ears cactus is native to northern Mexico and desert regions stretching into Arizona and is popular as a decorative houseplant. It is a member of the cactus family (Cactaceae). This perennial succulent forms low clumps with a creeping habit to nearly erect with many branches. Its small pad-like stems are flat and segmented and do not have spines but have golden-yellow or white glochids or bristles. This plant is slow-growing and will reach 2 to 3 feet tall and spread 4 to 5 feet as a mature plant. The epithet is compounded from the Greek meaning "very small, shaggy hairs." The bunny ears cactus requires full sun to partial shade and should be grown in a fast-draining cactus potting mix to prevent root rot. It is best to let the soil completely dry out between waterings. This plant prefers dry and low humid conditions. In the winter months, it requires cooler temperatures of 50-65 degrees Fahrenheit, very little water and partial sun conditions. It is not frost tolerant and must be brought indoors in cooler climate areas. Propagation is done by breaking off one of the pads in spring and rooting in well-drained soil. Bunny ears cactus is made up of fleshy, flat, segmented, oval to round (6 inches in diameter), light to medium green stem-like pads and spotted with white areoles that have white, yellow, or reddish-brown bristle (glochids). The bristles are very thin, barbed, and will detach with the slightest touch. New pads form at the stem tips and are produced in pairs giving it the bunny ear appearance. Its flowers bloom in the spring and are bowl-shaped and creamy yellow and about 2 inches long. Unfortunately, this plant rarely blooms indoors. After the flowers fade, edible, red to reddish-purple fruits ripen during the summer. Consider using the bunny ears cactus in a rock garden, as a ground cover, or accent plant. It is fast spreading, and its growth can be controlled by using it as a container plant. Wear protective gloves when handling this plant. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Monitor for mealybugs and scale insects. Overwatering and poor drainage can cause root rot or stem rot. VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti," a plant identification course created in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Opuntia .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 54 attributes.