Opuntia chlorotica Engelm. & J.M. Bigelow
Clock-face prickly-pear, Dollarjoint pricklypear, Pancake pear, Silver-dollar cactus
Cactaceae (Cactus Family)
USDA Symbol: OPCH
Clock-face prickly-pear or pancake pear is an erect, tree-like cactus, 3-8 ft. tall and almost as broad, with a stout trunk and ascending branches. Joints are yellow-green and flat. The flowers are yellow and followed by fleshy, purple-tinged fruit.
The pads of this prickly pear are almost perfectly round, giving rise to its common name. It is usually found growing on very steep hillsides in mountainous terrain and is widespread throughout much of the Southwest. The Pancake Prickly-pear is an erect shrub or small tree, and its areoles contain numerous yellow glochids and several golden spines. This prickly pear makes a very attractive ornamental. It blooms in May.
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Plant CharacteristicsDuration: Perennial
Size Notes: Up to 3ft or more tall. The joints are 4 3/4-8in long and 4 3/4-6 1/3in broad.
Flower: Flowers 2 inches long
Size Class: 1-3 ft. , 3-6 ft.
Bloom InformationBloom Color: Red , Yellow
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug
Bloom Notes: Diurnal
DistributionUSA: AZ , CA , NM , NV , UT
Native Distribution: S.w. UT to s. CA, s. to NM & Baja CA & Sonora, Mexico
Native Habitat: Mesas; dry, rocky desert walls
Growing ConditionsWater Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Dry, rocky soils.
Conditions Comments: Minimum temperature 45F
Value to Beneficial InsectsSpecial Value to Native Bees
This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
PropagationDescription: Not Available
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: Not Available
Commercially Avail: yes
From the National Organizations DirectoryAccording to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
BibliographyBibref 1140 - Cacti (1991) Clive Innes and Charles Glass
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Additional resourcesUSDA: Find Opuntia chlorotica in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Opuntia chlorotica in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Opuntia chlorotica
MetadataRecord Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TWC Staff