Consulta Plantas

Care of the cacti Opuntia aciculata or Chenille prickly pear

The genus Opuntia, family Cactaceae, includes about 300 species of cacti native to Mexico, the USA, and Central and South America. Some species are: Opuntia aciculata, Opuntia lindheimeri, Opuntia valida, Opuntia macrocentra, Opuntia chlorotica, Opuntia rufida, Opuntia robusta, Opuntia polyacantha, Opuntia microdasys, Opuntia linguiformis, Opuntia leucotricha, Opuntia engelmannii, Opuntia bergeriana, Opuntia santa-rita, Opuntia ficus-indica, Opuntia basilaris, Opuntia durangensis, Opuntia subulata, Opuntia atrispina, Opuntia phaeacantha, Opuntia auberi, Opuntia vestita, Opuntia spinulifera.

Common names: Chenille Prickly Pear, Old Man Whiskers, Cowboy's red whiskers. This species comes from Texas (USA) and Nuevo León and Tamaulipas (Mexico).

Opuntia aciculata is a very branched, bushy cactus that extends horizontally up to 3 m (9.84 feet) and reaches 1 m (3.28 feet) in height. The rounded segments are light green and measure 12 cm (4.72") in length. The areoles have numerous glochids and long spines 5 cm (1.96") long. The showy flowers are golden yellow. It blooms in late spring and early summer. The pink fruits are edible.

Chenille Prickly Pear is used in rockeries, on dry and sunny slopes, to form barriers, in cactus and succulent gardens, as isolated specimens and in pots when young. They are ideal for gardens with a Mediterranean climate.

Opuntia aciculata needs full sun exposure and a warm and dry climate although it resists frosts down to -12 ºC (-10.4 ºF).

Old Man Whiskers grows in any soil that has good drainage, whether sandy, rocky, poor or stony.

Always water moderately, waiting for the substrate to dry completely.

Opuntia aciculata does not need fertilizer.

Pruning is not necessary, but dry or damaged segments can be removed at any time.

Chenille Prickly Pear is a plant resistant to the usual pests and diseases but sensitive to excess humidity.

Opuntia aciculata propagates quite easily from segment cuttings in spring.

Images of the cacti Opuntia aciculata or Chenille prickly pear