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Opuntia microdasys (Bunny Ears)

Bunny Ears, Polka Dot Cactus, Angel's Wings, Cegador

AGM Award
Opuntia macrocentra, Black-Spine Prickly Pear, Purple Prickly Pear, Red-joint Prickly Pear, Texas Santa Rita, succulent, cactus, drought tolerant plant
Opuntia macrocentra, Black-Spine Prickly Pear, Purple Prickly Pear, Red-joint Prickly Pear, Texas Santa Rita, succulent, cactus, drought tolerant plant
Opuntia macrocentra, Black-Spine Prickly Pear, Purple Prickly Pear, Red-joint Prickly Pear, Texas Santa Rita, succulent, cactus, drought tolerant plant

A most attractive cactus, Opuntia microdasys (Bunny Ears) is a bushy, perennial cactus with oval to round, flattened, small pads, up to 6 in. across (15 cm). Red when new, the pads appear in pairs, like the ears of a rabbit, and mature to a soft, velvety green as they grow. They are spineless but densely spotted with neatly spaced, white areoles, each bearing white, yellow, or reddish-brown bristle-like spines. Sitting on the outer edges of the pads, large, pure yellow, or tinged with red, bowl-shaped flowers, up to 2 in. wide (5 cm), are produced in spring or early summer. Not often seen on plants grown in pots, the blossoms appear in abundance on plants grown in open ground. The flowers will turn into 2 in. long fruits (5 cm), varying from purple to red. Opuntia microdasys is a very decorative cactus that adds beauty to the garden year-round.

  • Winner of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society
  • Typically grows up to 3-4 ft. tall (90-120 cm) and 4-5 ft. wide (120-150 cm).
  • Performs best in full sun or light shade in well-drained soils. Once established, needs only occasional watering. Allow the compost to dry before watering during the growth period. Withhold water in winter when dormant. Drought tolerant once established.
  • This low-maintenance plant is a great choice for xeriscape gardens, rock gardens, Mediterranean gardens, and desert gardens. Lovely in containers too.
  • This remarkable plant is deer resistant and is easy to care for.
  • Generally disease-free. Watch for scale insects or mealy bugs.
  • Propagate from woody stem cuttings or from seed.
  • Native to central and northern Mexico.

Requirements

Hardiness 8 - 12
Heat Zones 9 - 12
Climate Zones 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Cactus & Succulents
Plant Family Cactaceae
Genus Opuntia
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid, Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 3' - 4'
(90cm - 120cm)
Spread 4' - 5'
(120cm - 150cm)
Spacing 60" (150cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Low
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance Drought, Deer, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Attracts Birds
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles Gravel and Rock Garden, Mediterranean Garden
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Alternative Plants to Consider

Opuntia rufida, Blind Prickly Pear
opuntia fragilis, Brittle Prickly Pear, Fragile Prickly Pear, Pygmy Prickly Pear, Brittle Cactus
Opuntia santarita Tubac, Santa Rita Prickly Pear, Opuntia santa-rita, Opuntia gosseliniana var. santarita, Opuntia chlorotica var. santarita, Opuntia violacea var. santarita, pink succulent, pink cactus, purple cactus, drought tolerant plant,
Austrocylindropuntia subulata, Eve's Needle Cactus,  Eve's Needle, Cane Cholla, Eve's Pin, Eve’s Needle Cactus, Eve’s Pin Cactus, Long Spine Cactus, Eve's-Pin Prickleypear, Opuntia subulata
Cylindropuntia imbricata, Tree Cholla, Walking Stick Cholla, Cholla, Cane Cactus, Candelabrum Cactus, Cane Cholla, Coyote Candles, Opuntia imbricata
Cylindropuntia echinocarpa, Golden Cholla, Silver Cholla, Wiggins' Cholla, Opuntia echinocarpa, Opuntia wigginsii

Recommended Companion Plants

Aeonium haworthii 'Kiwi', Aeonium 'Kiwi', Succulent, Aeonium, Aeonium decorum 'Kiwi'AGM Award
Crassula capitella 'Campfire', Campfire Crassula, Crassula 'Blaze', Crassula 'Flame', Red succullent, red crassula, drought tolerant plant, Mediterranean plant
Aloe maculata,Soap Aloe, Aloe saponaria, Orange flowers,Zebra Aloe
Sedum nussbaumerianum, Sedum Adolphii, Coppertone Stonecrop, Yellow Sedum, Red Sedum, Succuent, AGM SedumAGM Award
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
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Requirements

Hardiness 8 - 12
Heat Zones 9 - 12
Climate Zones 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Cactus & Succulents
Plant Family Cactaceae
Genus Opuntia
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid, Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 3' - 4'
(90cm - 120cm)
Spread 4' - 5'
(120cm - 150cm)
Spacing 60" (150cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Low
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance Drought, Deer, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Attracts Birds
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles Gravel and Rock Garden, Mediterranean Garden
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Learn Now
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Opuntia
Guides with
Opuntia
Not sure which Opuntia to pick?
Compare Now

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