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Coastal Pricklypear

Opuntia littoralis

The Coastal Pricklypear is a fun cactus that grows near the beach! It has bright yellow flowers and tasty fruits called prickly pears that you can eat. Just be careful of its sharp spines!

Habitat: Coastal areas

Appearance

The Coastal Pricklypear is a sprawling cactus with flattened, fleshy green pads covered in clusters of sharp spines and fine, barbed glochids. Its vibrant yellow to reddish-orange flowers bloom atop these pads, followed by reddish-purple, pear-shaped fruits.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderCaryophyllalesFamilyCactaceaeGenusOpuntia
Coastal Pricklypear
flowering trait badgefruit_bearing trait badgethorny_stem trait badgedrought_tolerant trait badge
Coastal Pricklypear

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

2/5 · Low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Coastal Pricklypear's strong roots help prevent sandy coastal dunes from washing away.

Its tiny barbed hairs (glochids) are often more irritating than the large spines!

Some desert tortoises love to munch on its pads, spines and all!

The yummy fruits of this cactus are sometimes called "cactus figs" or "tunas."

Special abilities

Ability

Water Wallet

Coastal Pricklypear can store vast amounts of water in its thick, paddle-shaped pads, allowing it to survive long droughts.

Ability

Spine Shield

Coastal Pricklypear has sharp spines and tiny barbed glochids that deter hungry animals from eating its juicy pads.

Ability

Pad Propagation

Coastal Pricklypear can sprout new plants from fallen pads, allowing it to quickly spread and colonize sandy areas.

Measurements & details

Height
30-150 cm
Spread
60-300 cm
Flower Size
5-8 cm
Bloom Season
Spring-summer
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

2/5 · Low

Be careful not to touch the spines on the cactus, they can poke you!

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is Coastal Pricklypear?

30-150 cm

How wide does Coastal Pricklypear spread?

60-300 cm

How big are the flowers on Coastal Pricklypear?

5-8 cm

When does Coastal Pricklypear bloom?

Spring-summer

Is Coastal Pricklypear edible?

Yes

Is Coastal Pricklypear toxic?

None

What is Coastal Pricklypear's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is Coastal Pricklypear pollinated?

Insect

Snap Map

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