Large Flowered Prickly Pear
Opuntia humifusa
NEMBA category
English: Large Flowered Prickly Pear, Creeping Prickly Pear, Devil’s Tongue, Eastern Prickly Pear
Misapplied or old scientific names: Opuntia compressa
Opuntia humifusa, commonly known as the Large Flowered Prickly Pear and Creeping Prickly Pear, is a low-growing cactus species characterised by its flattened, oval pads covered in clusters of small spines and glochids, along with bright yellow flowers that bloom in summer.
Native to North America, it has been introduced to various regions, including South Africa, where it exhibits invasive tendencies. Although less aggressive than some other Opuntia species, it can still form dense mats that out-compete native vegetation, particularly in sandy or rocky soils. Its ability to spread through both seed dispersal and vegetative reproduction from broken pads contributes to its invasiveness.
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Origins: North America (eastern and central United States, Canada)
Overall Appearance: A low-growing, mat-forming cactus with flattened, jointed stems (cladodes). Typically less than 30 cm tall.
Leaves: Reduced to spines.
Flowers: Bright yellow flowers that bloom in spring and summer.
Fruits: Spiny, pear-shaped fruits that are green when young and turn reddish-purple when ripe.
Seeds: Numerous, small seeds within the fruit.
Soil Type: Tolerates a wide range of soil types, including dry and sandy soils.
Aspect: Full sun.
Edible Parts: Fruits are edible, but caution is needed to remove the spines.
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