Opuntia microdasys Undulata - Prickly pear cactus

Opuntia microdasys 'Undulata' is a particularly decorative and original variety of the bunny ears cactus. This striking cactus surprises with its wavy "prickly pear" segments, reminiscent of coral reefs. Compact, unusual, and easy to grow in pots, it makes an excellent choice for cactus collectors. Indoors, it will require plenty of sunlight. A stay outdoors from spring to late summer will greatly benefit it.

Opuntia microdasys var. pallida 'Undulata' belongs to the Cactaceae family. The original species comes from the semi-desert regions of Mexico. Its scientific name, Opuntia microdasys, derives from the Greek "mikros" (small) and "dasys" (pilous), referring to the glochidia covering its segments. The pallida undulata variety is a horticultural selection not found in the wild. This mutation of 'pallida' is recognisable by its compact habit and irregularly waved cladodes. This contorted cactus forms a low, dense bush reaching 40 to 60 cm in height at maturity, with a spread of up to 60 cm when planted in the ground. In pots, it remains more compact. Its habit is spreading, forming a dense clump without a distinct central trunk. The segments branch from the base, creating a dense, spreading structure. In late spring, the plant produces a generation of deformed, wavy cladodes, which accumulate over time. This variety is described as cristate (or fasciated), as each new prickly pear grows in ridges. Its segments (cladodes) display a light yellow-green to medium green hue and are covered in small tufts of bright yellow to tawny glochidia, measuring 2 to 3 mm. These highly decorative glochidia are very fine and cling to the skin at the slightest touch. Flowering is very rarely observed in cultivation for this peculiar variety.

Opuntia microdasys Undulata is an excellent houseplant and an original gift idea. It will make a striking statement in a very bright interior or conservatory. It blends well with collections of cacti and succulents. You can pair it with Astrophytum myriostigma, a thornless, architectural cactus, Gasteria liliputana, a compact succulent with thick leaves, Rebutia heliosa, a small globular cactus offering beautiful spring flowering, and Echinopsis subdenudata, a globular cactus producing large nocturnal white flowers.