Opuntia engelmannii [north of Silver City, NM]

Also Known As

Cow's Tongue Cactus
Cow's Tongue Prickly Pear
Desert Prickly Pear
Engelman's Prickly Pear

Plant type

cactus / succulent

size

H: 10'
W: 10'

planting zones

5b-10b

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Opuntia engelmannii [north of Silver City, NM] plant details

Opuntia engelmannii [north of Silver City, NM] is an evergreen cactus / succulent with blue foliage. In spring and summer orange and yellow flowers emerge followed by purple and red fruit. Features glaucous texture. Attracts bees and hummingbirds making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun - mostly sun and occasional - low water. Drought tolerant once established. Prefers to be dry in winter. Does well in average, gritty, lean, rocky and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant and verticillium wilt resistant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Opuntia engelmannii [north of Silver City, NM]

Plant type: cactus / succulent
Plant family: cactaceae
Foliage: evergreen blue
Mature size: 10 FT wide, 10 FT tall
Flowers: orange and yellow blooms in spring and summer
Uses: container plant, desert garden, rock garden, spiky, xeric

GROWING CONDITIONS for Opuntia engelmannii [north of Silver City, NM]

USDA Zones: 5b - 10b
Sun exposure: sun - mostly sun
Watering frequency: occasional - low
Resistant to: deer and rabbit, heat and verticillium wilt
Soil needs: average, gritty, lean, rocky and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

These plants were smaller and not quite as blue as the Las Cruces plants, but the fruits were larger—perhaps the flowers also (??). They should be very tolerant of cold and wet conditions, coming from an area that may see temperatures as low as -15 F. When I was there, the soil was even muddy in places where these cacti were growing. DS.