Comments on: Opuntia cespitosa, Common Eastern Pricklypear

By: Frank

Frank — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 14:56:54 +0000

I’m looking to grow Opuntia in NYC outside, is there one that will grow here that has decent fruit.? Even if it must be brought indoors for winter.
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By: Joseph

Joseph — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 15:20:12 +0000

In reply to Derek Stephen Hollingshead.

Hi,
Thanks for your note. I think I got this error fixed.

Joe Shaw

By: Derek Stephen Hollingshead

Derek Stephen Hollingshead — Sun, 30 Oct 2022 18:34:24 +0000

“Is the only Opuntia that occurs in eastern Canada (far southern Ontario).”

Hey Joe!

I think this anecdote can be revised for both the Kaladar, ON O. fragilis and Thousand Islands, ON O. polyacantha populations.

Hope you are doing well :)

By: Joseph

Joseph — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 22:00:49 +0000

In reply to David A Schaeffer.

Hi David,

I’ve never seen O. humifusa with spines. So, I’m not sure what to say.

Joe

By: Joseph

Joseph — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 21:56:19 +0000

In reply to Bill Harms.

Hi Botany Bill,
Thanks for visiting our website.

Your description sounds like O. cespitosa to me if it is east of the Mississippi River.
West of the river (somewhere) O. macrorhiza begins. The two are very similar and a colleague calls them all O. macrorhiza, east or wet.
The red in the center of the flower is very telling. Much depends on the size of the plant, large woody plants would not be O. macrorhiza or O. cespitosa.

Joe Shaw

By: Bill Harms

Bill Harms — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 18:55:56 +0000

If it has spines and the base of the tepals are red or orange, or if they have a reddish/orangish tint, it is possible they are O cespitosa.

By: David A Schaeffer

David A Schaeffer — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 00:12:00 +0000

There are cliffs overlooking the Delaware River just N of Milford, NJ, with a large population of what I always assumed to be O. humifusa. However, these plants occasionally exhibit spines. Thoughts?