Opuntia rufida - Prickly Pear

The Opuntia rufida (not to be confused with O. microdasys var. rufida), is a remarkable prickly pear cactus, both highly ornamental and frost-resistant. The plant forms an erect, well-branched clump made up of numerous pads adorned with a multitude of extremely decorative but irritating reddish hair tufts called glochids. The plant flowers in spring, offering delicate bright yellow flowers. In favorable climates, these give way to pretty small bright red fruits. This Opuntia thrives easily in pots or in the ground, in a very well-draining substrate, without requiring any particular maintenance.

The Opuntia rufida is a botanical species related to the Prickly Pear (Opuntia ficus indica). It is a succulent plant belonging to the cactus family. It is native to desert areas of Mexico and Texas, mostly in limestone, sandy or rocky soils. Like all prickly pears, its growth consists of a very stout trunk, lignifying with age, which divides into flat, fleshy branches called articles or pads. An adult specimen will reach about 90 cm (35in) to 1 m (3ft) in height with a spread of 80 cm, sometimes more in favorable conditions. Of moderate growth, the plant produces 1 or 2 new pads per year from spring to autumn. Their surface, a blue-green color washed with copper, is adorned with numerous small tufts of tiny prickles resembling hair but remaining very irritating and unpleasant when in contact with the skin. Flowering takes place from May to July, earlier or later depending on the climate and under favorable conditions. Several flowers, 4 cm (2in) in diameter, in the shape of rounded cups appear on the edges of the pads, mainly towards their tips. These flowers are composed of fine, slightly translucent petals. Their color is a bright and light yellow, very vibrant. The fruit is bright red and covered with numerous glochids.

Hardy Opuntias are emblematic cacti of the desolate and arid expanses of North America. These succulent plants naturally find their place in dry gardens alongside other more traditional bushes such as rockroses, lavenders, rosemarys. This rufida species is quite resistant to frost, down to -12°C in dry soil. It can be cultivated in the ground in a dry rockery or on a dry slope in many regions that are not too humid in winter. Growing in pots protects the plants from winter humidity. It is advisable to keep this cactus away from pathways and children due to its formidable tiny, transparent, almost invisible spines that penetrate our skin with disconcerting ease and are very difficult to remove.