Beavertail Prickly Pear Cactus

Here’s a description for the Beavertail Prickly Pear Cactus:

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Beavertail Prickly Pear Cactus

The Beavertail Prickly Pear Cactus, scientifically known as Opuntia basilaris, is a remarkably distinctive and beautiful low-growing cactus renowned for its unique pad shape and vibrant blooms. Native to the southwestern United States, particularly the Mojave, Sonoran, and Great Basin deserts, it thrives in arid to semi-arid climates, often found in rocky slopes, washes, and open flats. This resilient long-lived perennial can form dense clumps, spreading slowly over many years.

Its most striking characteristic is its flattened, paddle-shaped stems (cladodes), which are bluish-green to grayish-purple and distinctively spineless or nearly spineless, giving them a smooth, velvety texture reminiscent of a beaver’s tail ‘“ hence its common name. Instead of large spines, the pads are covered with numerous tiny, barbed bristles called glochids, which can be irritating if touched. In early to late spring, the Beavertail Prickly Pear produces a spectacular display of vibrant, magenta to rose-pink flowers that are typically 2-3 inches wide. These showy blooms are followed by small, dry, reddish-brown fruits that are not typically eaten by humans but provide food for wildlife. Its compact form, striking coloration, and stunning floral display make it a popular choice for xeriscaping, rock gardens, and naturalized desert landscapes, particularly in areas where a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plant is desired.