Opuntia laevis - Prickly Pear

The Opuntia laevis, sometimes called Opuntia phaeacantha var. laevis, is a variety of prickly pear that is interesting for its resistance to cold and dry weather, its almost spineless pads, its beautiful yellow flowering in late spring, and its decorative fruits. The plant is spreading, bushy variety, well-branched, of medium vigor, and easy to grow in full sun in any well-draining, poor, rocky, and arid soil. Hardy prickly pears are grown outdoors, in the ground, and away from high-traffic areas, allowing them to freely express the spirit that inhabits them, that of the desert landscapes of North America.

The Opuntia laevis, a close relative of the Prickly Pear (Opuntia ficus indica), is a succulent plant without true leaves from the cactus family. This botanical species is native to southeastern Arizona, where it is found rooted in the scree and rocky walls of canyons. It stands out for the almost absence of prickles on its pads, which are usually present on many other prickly pears. An adult specimen will reach approximately 80-90 cm (32-35in) in height and can spread laterally for at least 1 m, it is not uncommon for lateral branches to lie on the ground. Fast growing, the plant can produce 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. Measuring up to 10-12 cm (4-5in) wide and 30 cm (12in) long, they are elliptical to oval, flattened, fleshy, and thick. The base of the plant lignifies with age, forming a very short trunk. The gray-green-blue surface of the pads is almost spineless, punctuated by succulent and recurved atrophied leaves that quickly disappear. Flowering occurs from late May to late July, earlier or later depending on the climate. Several beautiful flowers appear around the edges of the pads, mainly towards their tips. The cup-shaped flowers, 6 cm (2in) wide, are composed of yellow petals suffused with red, with a fine and slightly translucent texture. They give way to elongated pear-shaped fruits, 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3in) long, adorned with some glochids, and purple-violet in color when ripe.

Cultivable in many regions, including coastal areas, this amazing prickly pear is hardy down to -15 °C at its extreme without protection, but in perfectly draining, rocky, stony, or sandy soil. It naturally structures exotic or contemporary landscapes, in a large rockery, on a dry slope, or at the edges of a dry garden. It will find its place among hardy agaves, Nolinas, and arborescent Euphorbias. Associate it with fairly hardy columnar cacti: Cleistocactus strausii or Cylindropuntia imbricata. Even though this opuntia is almost spineless, it is advisable to keep it away from walkways and children.