plant

Eastern Prickly Pear

Opuntia Humifusa

Updated 16 Jun 2026 · AI-parsed entry

Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia Humifusa) — a plant, for Full sun, Low water.

What it needs & gives back

↓ Needs

Sunlightfull sun
Waterlow

↑ Gives back

Biomassmedium
Fruitedible

Through the year

Emergence

New pads and growth emerge after the last spring frost and when soil temperatures consistently reach 100C.

Flowering

Flowering typically occurs about 60 days after new growth emerges, lasting for approximately 6 weeks.

Fruiting

Fruits develop and ripen following flowering, usually maturing over a two-month period.

Dormancy

The plant enters dormancy with the first autumn frost or when air temperatures consistently drop to 00C, lasting through winter.

Timing is relative to your local season (temperate Northern Hemisphere).

Soil interactions

Drainagewell-drained
Nitrogen fixingNo
MycorrhizalYes
Accumulatescalcium, potassium
Soil texturesandy, loamy
Organic matterLow
Compaction toleranceHigh

Propagation

Methodsseeds, stem_cuttings
Difficulty2 / 5
Establishes in~1 yr
Self-seedingModerate
Divisionspring

Wildlife & pests

Attractsbees, pollinators