Opuntia aciculata - Prickly pear cactus

Opuntia aciculata, nicknamed the prickly pear with needles, is a rather fascinating desert plant, whose thick pads are covered with orange glochidia. This species is prized for its stunning raspberry-red flowers. Highly decorative in rockeries or dry beds, this cactus is very resistant to frost in dry soil. A prime choice for an arid garden or a succulent collection! Hardy prickly pears can be grown outdoors, in the ground and away from footpaths. These plants perfectly embody the spirit of North America's desert landscapes.

Opuntia aciculata, a close relative of the Indian Fig (Opuntia ficus-indica), is a succulent plant from the Cactaceae family lacking true leaves. Native to the southwestern United States (Texas) and the Mexican states of Nuevo León and Tamaulipas, this species thrives mainly in desert areas and arid scrubland. It is often found on dry, rocky hills, forming sparse, small colonies. It is closely related to Opuntia engelmannii, with which it shares several morphological characteristics. This shrubby cactus has a low, spreading habit, reaching up to 1 m in height and easily spreading 2 m wide in the ground. Its growth is relatively slow, forming compact hemispherical clumps. The fleshy stems, or cladodes, are flattened, obovate to ovate, measuring between 12 and 20 cm in length. They are bright to dark green, sometimes taking on a pinkish hue in cold weather. The areoles, spaced about 5 mm apart, feature prominent glochidia, 0.5 to 1 cm long, arranged in dense rings around the areoles. These golden yellow to dark red glochidia are particularly stinging. Although longer spines may be present, they are generally absent or few. Opuntia aciculata produces offsets that contribute to the gradual expansion of the clump. The flowers of Opuntia aciculata are broad and pointed, measuring between 8 and 10 cm in diameter. They exhibit a colour palette ranging from golden yellow to orange or red, sometimes with a greenish centre. Flowering occurs in spring or early summer, depending on the climate. The pear-shaped fruits are green to purple and covered in fine spines and glochidia. They are edible and ripen shortly after flowering. An interesting peculiarity of this species is the thigmotaxis of its floral anthers: at the slightest touch, they bend to deposit pollen onto insects or other pollinators, thus facilitating the plant's reproduction.

Historically, the fruits of Opuntia aciculata were consumed by local populations, and young cladodes, once the spines were burned off, served as livestock feed, particularly during droughts. This use dates back to the early 17th century, with the introduction of livestock into semi-arid areas, leading to overgrazing and necessitating alternative food sources such as cacti.

Cultivable in many regions where winters are neither too wet nor too cold, the needle prickly pear is hardy down to -10/-15°C without protection, but in dry, perfectly drained, stony, rocky or sandy soil. It naturally structures exotic landscapes, in large rockeries, on arid slopes or at the edges of dry gardens. It can also be used to reinforce a defensive hedge. Pair it with fairly hardy columnar cacti: Cleistocactus strausii or Echinopsis atacamensis (synonym Trichocereus pasacana). It should be kept away from paths and children, due to its fine but formidable spines.