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Opuntia ellisiana Griffiths
Spineless Prickly Pear, Tigertongue, South Texas Pricklypear
Cactaceae (Cactus Family)
Synonym(s): Opuntia ×ellisiana
USDA Symbol: OPEL3
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
Opuntia ellisiana is a spinless form of Opuntia cacanapa.
Opuntia ellisiana is derived from cultivation in the United States.
From the Image Gallery
Plant CharacteristicsDuration: Perennial
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Fruit Type: Berry
Size Notes: 3-6'
Bloom InformationBloom Color: Red , Pink , Orange , Yellow
Bloom Time: May , Jun
DistributionUSA: AZ , NM , TX
Native Distribution: Opuntia ellisiana is known only from cultivation in the United States.
Growing ConditionsWater Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Drought Tolerance: Medium , High
Conditions Comments: The spineless prickly pear is a great addition to the landscape for those seeking a cactus form, showy blooms and bright red fruits (tunas). Beware, although it doesn't have long sharp spines, the tiny glochids (slivers) are very irritating to the skin if the plant is not handled correctly. Grab the pads between the glochid "dots".
BenefitConspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Deer Resistant: Moderate
Value to Beneficial InsectsSpecial Value to Native Bees
This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
PropagationPropagation Material: Seeds , Semi-hardwood Cuttings , Softwood Cuttings
Description: Allow cut surface to callous over before planting.
Seed Collection: Allow fruit to ripen then clean and dry seeds.
Seed Treatment: Seed can be stored after cleaning.
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:
NPSOT - Austin Chapter - Austin, TX
NPSOT - Williamson County Chapter - Georgetown, TX
BibliographyBibref 1140 - Cacti (1991) Clive Innes and Charles Glass
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Additional resourcesUSDA: Find Opuntia ellisiana in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Opuntia ellisiana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Opuntia ellisiana
MetadataRecord Modified: 2013-06-08
Research By: Damon Waitt