# 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! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Coastal Pricklypear](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Opuntia_littoralis_ssp_littoralis_1.jpg&width=800) Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Opuntia_littoralis_ssp_littoralis_1.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Caryophyllales - **Family:** Cactaceae - **Genus:** Opuntia ## 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 - **Water Wallet:** Coastal Pricklypear can store vast amounts of water in its thick, paddle-shaped pads, allowing it to survive long droughts. - **Spine Shield:** Coastal Pricklypear has sharp spines and tiny barbed glochids that deter hungry animals from eating its juicy pads. - **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 - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen from its flowers - **Eaten by:** [Desert Tortoise](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-tortoise) (*Gopherus agassizii*) — eats the pads and fruits despite the spines - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — browses on its pads, especially during dry seasons - **Eats:** [Black-headed Grosbeak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-headed-grosbeak) (*Pheucticus melanocephalus*) — eats its fruits and helps spread its seeds ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Thorny Stem](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/thorny-stem): Pertaining to plants that have stems covered with sharp, pointed projections for defense. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Succulent](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/succulent): Succulent plants have thickened, fleshy parts, usually leaves or stems, adapted to store water in arid climates. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Spiky/Thorny](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spiky-thorny): Possessing sharp, pointed projections or spines on the body or surface. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Be careful not to touch the spines on the cactus, they can poke you! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Coastal Pricklypear? Compare leaf arrangement, rosette shape, ribs, spines and flowers. Keep in mind that drought and strong sun can shift a plant's color and shape. Succulent Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### 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 ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Coastal Pricklypear: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coastal-pricklypear)