Summer Wildflowers: Prickly Pear Cacti
Prickly pear cacti (Opuntia polyacantha) are an iconic species of the Western US and Mexico. Learn how this cactus is uniquely adapted to its environment and how humans have traditionally interacted with this plant!
Prickly pears, like other cacti, have shallow roots to maximize rainfall capture; they also store extra water in the “pads” of the cactus. The larger spines protect the cacti from being eaten, and smaller spines reflect the sun from its pads, preventing the cacti from losing water through transpiration.
Photo Source: Picryl
Prickly pear cacti generally bloom in June and July, and can come in a beautiful variety of colors, including yellow, pink, red, and orange. According to the National Parks Service, “The flowers change color during the course of the prickly pear’s bloom, becoming more reddish as the bloom gets older.” I once saw a single cactus that had one yellow and one orange flower!
Photo Credit: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Flickr.
Prickly pear cacti are used for dyes, medicines, and food by Indigenous, Native American, and Mexican cultures. The juice, fruits, stems, and flowers of the cactus are edible (handle carefully!) and are delicious in juices, jams, smoothies, and margaritas!
Photo Source: Picryl
