# low pricklypear (*Opuntia humifusa*) The low pricklypear is a fun cactus that grows close to the ground. It has flat pads and bright yellow flowers that turn into tasty fruits called prickly pears! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 11 - **Habitat:** Desert - **Also known as:** Nopales ![low pricklypear](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Opuntia_humifusa1UGA1120625.jpg&width=800) Photo: Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society, United States, CC BY 3.0 us · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Opuntia_humifusa1UGA1120625.jpg) ## Appearance The low pricklypear has flat, oval-shaped green pads covered in tiny barbed bristles and longer spines. It grows close to the ground, spreading outwards. Its bright yellow or sometimes reddish flowers pop up in late spring. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Caryophyllales - **Family:** Cactaceae - **Genus:** Opuntia ## Interesting facts - Indigenous people sometimes used pricklypear pads to mark trails across the land! - Its juicy fruits, called tunas, are a favorite sweet treat for many desert animals! - Many small creatures like insects and lizards find shelter from the sun under its pads! - This amazing cactus can survive freezing winter temperatures by shriveling its pads! ## Special abilities - **Water Storer:** Low pricklypear has thick, fleshy pads that can store lots of water, helping it survive long droughts. - **Spine Shield:** Low pricklypear has sharp spines and tiny, irritating glochids to protect its pads from hungry animals. - **Ground Sprouter:** Low pricklypear can grow roots from fallen pieces of its pads, allowing new plants to sprout easily. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-30 cm - **Spread:** 30-100 cm - **Flower Size:** 4-6 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — visits bright flowers for nectar. - **Eaten by:** [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) — nibbles on its pads and fruits. - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — browses on its tender young pads. - **Eaten by:** Virginia Opossum (*Didelphis virginiana*) — enjoys its sweet, red fruits. - **Shelter:** [Eastern Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus undulatus*) — hides from predators. ## 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. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [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. - [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna. - [Spiky/Thorny](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spiky-thorny): Possessing sharp, pointed projections or spines on the body or surface. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Be careful of the spines on the pricklypear; they can poke you! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify low 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 low pricklypear? 5-30 cm ### How wide does low pricklypear spread? 30-100 cm ### How big are the flowers on low pricklypear? 4-6 cm ### When does low pricklypear bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is low pricklypear edible? Yes ### Is low pricklypear toxic? None ### What is low pricklypear's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Jumel Terrace Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jumel-terrace-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [North and South Brother Islands](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/north-and-south-brother-islands) — US · Nature Reserve - [Six Flags Wild Safari Adventure](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/six-flags-wild-safari-adventure) — New Jersey, US · Zoo - [Batona Trail](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/batona-trail) — New Jersey, US · Trail - [Cassville Crossroads Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cassville-crossroads-historic-district) — New Jersey, US · Historic District - [Flag Ponds Nature Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/flag-ponds-nature-park) — Maryland, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see low pricklypear](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/low-pricklypear) ## 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: [Low Pricklypear: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/low-pricklypear)