Many-spined prickly pear (Opuntia polyacantha) is a plant of succulent leaves that can grow 10cm – 50cm tall and 1.5m – 3m wide. In this growing guide we’ll learn the cultivation details and how to plant Many-spined prickly pear (Opuntia polyacantha).
This plant is commonly known as many-spined prickly pear.
This is a evergreen plant that takes 10-20 years to reach full maturity.
In this article
Plant profile
Common name: many-spined prickly pear
Scientific name: Opuntia polyacantha
Plant type: Cactus / Succulent, Conservatory & Greenhouse
Habit: Bushy
Height: 10cm – 50cm
Spread: 1.5m – 3m
Foliage: Evergreen
Sunlight: Full Sun
Soil: Loam, Sand
Moisture: Well drained
Garden type: Patio & Container Garden
Seasonal colors
| Season | Stem | Foliage | Flower | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
How to plant Many-spined prickly pear (Opuntia polyacantha) – Evolvulux, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Cacti and succulent plants are appreciated for their natural charm, mainly for their leaf shapes, but also in some cases for their colorful flowers in spring and summer.
They should be cultivated in areas that mimic the conditions in which they grow in nature, which are usually exposed places with stony and fast-draining soils.
These characteristics make them to be grown in pots.
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How to plant
In this section we will learn how to plant Many-spined prickly pear (Opuntia polyacantha), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.
Soil
Many-spined prickly pear (Opuntia polyacantha) is a plant that prefers to grow in loam or sand.
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The loam soil is dark, rich in organic matter but balanced in minerals. It offers the best of all worlds, retaining enough water for the plants, but allowing excess moisture to drain away. This is the most desired type of garden soil, perfect for most plants.
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Sandy soil is light, porous and very easy to drain. It is a soil poor in organic matter and nutrients. It is composed of relatively large mineral particles that allow water to drain quickly.
It is not very sensitive to soil acidity or alkalinity and grows well in soils with pH acid, alkaline or neutral.
Regarding drainage, Opuntia polyacantha likes to grow in well drained soil.
Sunlight
Many-spined prickly pear (Opuntia polyacantha) should be grown in full sun places.
Cultivation profiles – Growing Many-spined prickly pear (Opuntia polyacantha) – Agnieszka KwiecieĊ, Nova, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
