Opuntia angustata

Opuntia angustata is a robust and particularly hardy variety of prickly pear. It is easy to grow in many regions if it is protected from excessive moisture in winter. This variety forms an upright bush, as wide as it is tall, which can become the centrepiece of a rock garden or arid bank. Its oval pads are armed with long, sharp prickles of a very light colour. The spring flowering is delightful, with large yellow cups touched with orange that fade to a beautiful orangish hue. Hardy prickly pears are cultivated outdoors, in the ground and away from high traffic areas.

Opuntia phaeacantha is a close relative of prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica). It has a variable appearance, depending on the subspecies. The angustata form is native to the Northwestern Arizona, as well as adjacent regions of Nevada and California. It is distinguished from the type by its finer and longer spines. It is a succulent, bushy plant devoid of true leaves from the cactus family. An adult specimen can easily measure 1.3m (4ft) in all directions. Its growth rate is rapid, with the plant producing 1 or 2 new pads per year from spring to autumn. The vegetation consists of pads or cladodes that are stacked on top of each other. They are flattened, fleshy, and thick. The base lignifies with age, helping the plant to withstand wind and the weight of snow. The bluish-green surface is abundantly covered with large prickles of a chalky white colour with a red base. It also develops tiny prickles called glochids, gathered in small round clusters, which are very dangerous to handle. Flowering occurs in early summer. Several flowers appear on the edges of the pads, mainly towards their tips. They are a fairly light and vibrant lemon-yellow. The rounded cup-shaped flowers are composed of fine, slightly translucent petals. They give way to globular fruits, heavily covered with glochids, which turn reddish-purple when ripe. These fruits are edible, but they are less tasty than those of the prickly pear.

This astonishing cactus is hardy down to -17°C (1.4°F) without protection, if grown in perfectly drained, rocky, stony, or sandy soil. It naturally structures exotic or contemporary landscapes, in a large rock garden, on an arid bank, or at the edges of a dry garden. It can also be used to double up a defensive hedge, making it a perfect deterrent. It will find its place among hardy agaves, nolinas, and tree-like euphorbias. Pair it with fairly hardy columnar cacti, such as Cleistocactus strausii or Cylindropuntia imbricata. It should be kept away from high traffic areas and children, due to its formidable spines.