Tulip prickly pear
Desert prickly pear
Tulip prickly pear
Desert prickly pear
Opuntia phaeacantha
Plant type:
Shrub
Lifecycle:
Perennial
Growing season:
NA
Cover:
Moderate
Soil
Acceptable soil conditions:
Loam,
Sand,
Gravel
Soil Conditions:
CaCO3 tolerant
Salt
Location
Min elevation:
0
Max elevation:
8000
Counties:
Apache County,
Cochise County,
Coconino County,
Gila County,
Graham County,
Greenlee County,
La Paz County,
Maricopa County,
Mohave County,
Navajo County,
Pima County,
Pinal County,
Santa Cruz County,
Yavapai County,
Yuma County
Reproduction & Growth
Growth rate:
Moderate
Germination requirements:
scratched/scarified seeds germinate more reliably
Establishment:
High
Lifespan:
Long
Ecological
Best suited for these site conditions:
Cold
Disturbance
Fire
Best suited for these management goals:
Erosion control
Pollinator habitat
Weed management
Additional Information
Warning:
tends to be weedy
Commercial availability:
Available from nurseries
Notes:
prone to hybridization; resists low intensity fire; rapid growth and establishment after fire
Citations:
Ansley 2007; Willad 2007