« Browse By Botanical Name

Opuntia macrocentra

Accession Count: 3
Common Name: long spined prickly pear
Family Name: Cactaceae
Botanical Name: Opuntia macrocentra
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:

The long spined prickly pear has four-to-six inch long, obovate pads with spines clustered near the upper edge. These pads are beautiful bluish green, with reddish or purple margins during winter and spring. In cold weather, the pads turn drought reddish-purple. The long spined prickly pear blooms bright yellow flowers with red centers (1).
Compound: Opu mac
Geographic Origin: Southwest US, Northwest Mexico
Ecozone Origin: Nearctic
Biome Origin:
Natural History: O. macrocentra native populations are found in Southwest US and Northwest Mexico. In the Southwest US this includes Arizona, New Mexico,  and Southwestern Texas (2).
Cultivation Notes: O. macrocentra has a moderate growth rate and requires very little water. It is suitable for fully sunny or lightly shaded areas, and is also hardy to 0℉.
Ethnobotany:

The long spined prickly pear has landscape value because it is a beautiful showy cactus when blooming (1).
Height: 0 - 5 feet
Width: 0 - 5 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate Growing
Grow Season: Spring
Flower Season: ForeSummer
Color: Orange
Function: Habitat
Spread: Non-spreading
Allergen: Non-allergenic
Invasive: Benign
Toxicity:
Hardy: Hardy
Water Use: Low water Use
Citations:

  1. Urban Landscape Committee. Desert Accent Plants. Arizona Native Plant Society, 1992.
  2. Loflin, Brian (2009). Texas Cacti. Texas A7M University Press. p. 99.
Alert

Opuntia macrocentra