Opuntia engelmannii var. linguiformis - Prickly Pear

The Opuntia engelmannii var. linguiformis is hardy, bushy and dense, distinctive and decorative all year round. It is characterized by its thin, long and narrow pads, its beautiful and abundant spring flowering in yellow-orange, and its red fruits that remain decorative throughout the winter. While it can withstand up to -15°C in a sheltered position and well-drained soil, this particularly elegant form is sensitive to wind and snow, which can damage its pads. The prickly pears, true camel plants, thrive in dry gardens, large rock gardens, and arid slopes, against a backdrop of blue sky and austere rocks.

The Opuntia engelmannii, a close relative of the Prickly Pear (Opuntia ficus indica), is a succulent plant devoid of true leaves from the cactus family. This botanical species is native to Texas, where it grows along the Rio Grande River and in the surrounding plains. The linguiformis variety has become very rare in its original habitat. An adult plant can reach 1.5 meters (5 feet) in 4 or 5 years under favorable conditions. The vegetation consists of a stout trunk, lignifying with age, which divides into flat, thin branches of very elongated to triangular shape, called articles or pads. These segments easily orient themselves towards the sun from a young age. Their surface, gray-green in color, takes on pinkish hues in winter when exposed to full sun. They are abundantly covered with large golden prickles with a red base, which turn brown over time, as well as tiny prickles called glochides, clustered in small round tufts, which are very dangerous when handling. The flowering takes place in May-June, in abundance. Several flowers appear on the edges of the pads, mainly towards their tips. The marbled orange-yellow petals are highlighted by a diaphanous texture. They are followed by fruits heavily covered with glochides, which turn violet-purple when ripe and persist throughout the winter before falling. While they are edible, they are less flavorful than those of the Prickly Pear.

Cultivable in almost all our regions, this cactus is hardy up to -15°C (5°F) without protection, but in well-drained, rocky, stony or sandy soil. It naturally structures exotic and contemporary landscapes and can be integrated into a deterrent defensive hedge. It will find its place in a large rock garden, or a gravel bed where its sharp silhouette will stand out beautifully against a mineral and austere backdrop, populated with some grasses, agaves, Hesperaloe parviflora, and arborescent Euphorbias (E.mellifera or dendroides). Hardy cactus candles (Cleistocactus strausii, Cylindropuntia imbricata) and large cistus plants (Cistus laurifolius) can be associated with it, as they are equally frugal and undemanding. It should be kept away from pathways and children due to its formidable spines, as well as those that are transparent, almost invisible to the naked eye, which penetrate our skin with disconcerting ease and are difficult to remove.