Botanical Name: Opuntia basilaris Add
Common Name: Beavertail Prickly Pear  
Plant photo of: Opuntia basilaris
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California Native Plant
  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Succulent, Cactus

 

Height Range

Under 1', 1-3'

 

Flower Color

Pink

 

Flower Season

Spring, Summer

 

Leaf Color

Blue Green, Grey Green

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

Blue, Green

 

Fruit Season

Summer, Fall

Sun

Full, Half

 

Water

Very Low, Low

 

Growth Rate

Slow

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay, Loam, Rocky, Unparticular

 

Soil Condition

Average, Poor, Well-drained

 

Soil pH

Neutral, Basic

 

Adverse Factors

Attracts Bees, Thorns/Spines

Design Styles

Ranch, Spanish, Wild Garden

 

Accenting Features

Showy Flowers, Unusual Shape

 

Seasonal Interest

Spring, Summer

 

Location Uses

Parking Strip, Patio, Raised Planter, Walkways, With Rocks

 

Special Uses

Container, Mass Planting, Fire Resistant, Naturalizing

 

Attracts Wildlife

n/a

Information by: George Hull MSN
Photographer: Mountain States Nursery
  • Description

  • Notes

About 1' high by 4' across. Pads are blue-gray sometimes with a bit of purple. New pads from from lower areas of the plant. Flowers are intensely rose purple from spring to early summer. Native Arizona, Utah, Nevada and California and Sonora to Baja Full sun. Drought resistant. Needs good drainage.
hardy to 5f