Opuntia semispinosa - Prickly Pear

The Opuntia semispinosa is a cactus with variable appearance, quite delicate to cultivate in open ground, grown for its very original white spination and its pretty yellow flowers. This species is also characterized by quite significant growth when the conditions are right, as well as a sprawling, somewhat anarchic habit, more or less prostrate or erect. The pads of this species are irregular in shape, glaucous in color, and bear strong white prickles on their upper half.

The Opuntia semispinosa is a succulent plant devoid of true leaves from the cactus family. This botanical species is native to California and Mexico. In the wild, the plant can reach and even exceed 1m (3ft) in height with a span of 2m (7ft), but its growth is much less significant in our climates, especially when cultivated in pots. This species is sensitive to cold, damp weather, as well as rainy summers. The vegetation is composed of a very short "trunk" that becomes woody over time, dividing into flat branches of irregular shape and size called articles or cladodes. Their surface, green-gray in color, is quite smooth but covered in tiny prickles, called glochids, clustered together, which are very dangerous when handling. The dermis is also equipped with white prickles with a brownish base, sometimes twisted or angular, mostly located on the upper half of the articles (hence the species name, semispinosa). Flowering takes place in May-June with several flowers appear on the edges of the pads. Their color varies from bright yellow to yellow-orange, highlighted by a translucent texture. They measure 5 to 6 cm (2in) in diameter. The flowers give way to oval fruits, 3.5 to 5 cm (1 to 2in) long, also covered in glochids and prickles, turning deep red when ripe.

Quite rare in cultivation, this Opuntia semispinosa will delight collectors who will place it in a beautiful pot on the terrace or balcony, of course away from traffic and young children. This cultivation method allows the plant to be sheltered in winter and better control the moisture of the growing medium. This cactus can only be grown in open ground in rocky soils in our Mediterranean regions, where it can escape humidity in summer, but also to a lesser extent, rain during the peak of winter. It can be placed against a wall, where it will find drier soil while benefiting from a bit more warmth.