Opuntia cacanapa 'Ellisiana'

Also Known As

Opuntia cacanapa var. ellisiana
Opuntia ellisiana
Opuntia ellisiana 'Thornless Blue'
Opuntia lindheimeri var. 'Ellisiana'
Ellisiana Spineless Prickly Pear
South Texas Prickly Pear
Thornless blue cactus
Tiger Tongue

Plant type

cactus / succulent

size

H: 3'-5'
W: 3'-6'

planting zones

7a-11

More Options

Opuntia cacanapa 'Ellisiana' plant details

Opuntia cacanapa 'Ellisiana' is a fast-growing evergreen cactus / succulent with blue and green foliage. In spring and summer yellow flowers emerge followed by 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 cacanapa 'Ellisiana'

Plant type: cactus / succulent
Plant family: cactaceae
Foliage: evergreen blue and green
Mature size: 3 FT - 6 FT - wide, 3 FT - 5 FT - tall
Flowers: yellow blooms in spring and summer
Uses: container plant, desert garden, mass-planting, rock garden, showy, spineless, unique, winter interest, xeric, year round interest

GROWING CONDITIONS for Opuntia cacanapa 'Ellisiana'

USDA Zones: 7a - 11
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

Hurray for this nearly spineless, not-to-prickly, prickly pear with blue-green pads, to 6" in diameter, in clumps to as much as 3 ft tall x 4 ft wide. Late spring flowers are bright yellow. Of probable Mexican origin, found in cultivation in Alpine Texas, these are beautiful, architectural, fast-growing and safe to have around curious children. Loves summer water but can fare well without. Frost hardy into the bottom of USDA zone 7. A plant with many synonyms including O. lindheimeri var. ellisiana and O. cacanapa 'Ellisiana'.

By: Cistus Nursery

(SPINELESS PRICKLY PEAR) Yes! A ‘unprickled’ prickly pear! A hardy, very shapely padded cacti that likes a warm spot in baking sun and awful soil…grows 4-5’ high and wide in 3-4 years – a good size for even smaller gardens! Big 4” glowing yellow flowers in summer – and yummy, no hurt-em-hands red spineless pears soon after – well drained soil is a must in winter.

By: Secret Garden Growers

This is an old Prickly Pear cultivar (sans prickles) selected by Luther Burbank who apparently hated to be poked while weeding among the cactus. This handles our winter cold and wet without a whimper as long it has great drainage. Nice yellow flowers and big new pads each spring.