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Opuntia basilaris

Accession Count: 3
Common Name: beavertail cactus
Family Name: Cactaceae
Botanical Name: Opuntia basilaris
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Cultivar:
Characteristics:
O. basilaris is a clumping, blue-gray cactus that develops fleshy, ovate pads resembling a beaver’s tail. The flat pads are ash-gray in color, with purple joints, and reach up to 4 inches wide. Although spineless, each pad is covered in dense patches of glochids. The beavertail cactus is low growing, not exceeding 6-12 inches, and produces purple to red flowers during the spring.
Compound: Opu bas
Geographic Origin: Southwest
Ecozone Origin: Nearctic
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
The beavertail cactus is found in southwestern USA and northwestern Mexico – native to the Mojave, Colorado, and Sonoran deserts. It grows in arid plains and valleys at 3,000 to 5,500 feet.
There are three recognized varieties of O. basilaris - the brachyclada, treleasei, and heili. (1) O. basilaris var. brachyclada, also known as the short-joint beavertail, is a rare version of the plant and is native to the Transverse Range. O. basilaris var. treleasei, or the Bakersfield cactus, is even more rare, being listed as Endangered, and has been completely rooted out from its native home in the southern Central Valley. The final variety is O. basilaris var. heili, which is only distributed within Utah (2).
Cultivation Notes: O. basilaris is great for adding color and filling space in a landscape. For a cactus, it will grow speedily, especially if the plant is smaller in size, due to its low-maintenance nature. After its first season, very minimal water is required to keep it alive and blooming. Watering the plant once every two to three weeks should be sufficient (5). This species of Opuntia does not require much to any pruning at all. The cactus should get a lot of sunlight, but partial shade is also tolerated. O. basilaris is heat tolerant but can withstand temperatures as low as 10° F for brief periods, USDA hardiness zones 8a to 10b. O. basilaris should be planted in very fast-draining soil and rarely, if ever watered. It grows well even on caliche.
Ethnobotany: The berries formed from Opuntia basilaris are called “tuna” and can be eaten along with the pads to keep blood sugar stable. Additionally, the seeds, buds, and joints have been consumed by the Cahuilla, Kumeyaay, Kawaiisu, and Tubatulabal people of southwestern America and Baja California. The flower can be eaten fresh or cooked, and is equally valued for its medicinal use.
High productivity of the cacti depends on the size of the orchard and environmental factors, such as rainfall and temperature. While the Opuntia cacti are cultivated in Mexico for their edible fruit, the plant is also regarded as a decorative plant that provides an accent in a landscape.
In addition to human use, animals such as javelina and rabbits value O. basilaris as a source of food and shelter. Smaller animals utilize the cacti as protection from predators, such as coyotes (3).
Additionally, the cacti inflorescence attracts a large number of native bees and therefore is valued by pollination ecologists.
Height: 11 - 15 feet
Width: 11 - 15 feet
Growth Rate: Slow Growing
Grow Season: Summer
Flower Season: ForeSummer
Color: Pink
Function: Accent
Spread: Spreading
Allergen: Non-allergenic
Invasive: Benign
Toxicity: Benign
Hardy: Semi-hardy
Water Use: Low water Use
Citations:
1. California Native Plant Society -- retrieved March 30, 2017
2. ITIS -- retrieved March 30, 2017
3. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension -- Retrieved March 30, 2017
4. Native Cultivars of Cactus Pear in Mexico, by C.M. Jacobo and S.P. Gonzalez -- Retrieved March 30, 2017
5. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center -- Retrieved March 30, 2017
6. Urban Landscape Committee. Desert Accent Plants. Arizona Native Plant Society, 1992.
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Opuntia basilaris