Opuntia humifusaTed Bodner, Southern Weed Science S… · CC BY 3.0 us
Cactus

Opuntia humifusa

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Botanical fact sheet

Opuntia humifusa (Raf.) Raf.

⚙ Automatic base data
Opuntia humifusa
Photo: Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society, United StatesCC BY 3.0 usWikimedia CommonsInfringing image? Let us know
Taxonomy
Family: Cactaceae · Genus: Opuntia1
Native distribution
North America, Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mexico Northeast, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Global, France, Norway, South Africauncertain3
Conservation status
LC Least concern (IUCN)56
Synonyms
5 synonyms
  • Cactus italicus Ten. ex Steud.
  • Opuntia impedata Small
  • Opuntia mesacantha grandiflora (Engelm.) J.M.Coult.
  • Opuntia pumila Vierh. & Hand.-Mazz.
  • Opuntia turgida Small
2

Opuntia humifusa, commonly known as the devil's-tongue, eastern prickly pear or Indian fig, is a cactus of the genus Opuntia present in parts of the eastern United States, southeastern Canada, and northeastern Mexico.

Still missing: plant type, natural habitat, height / growth form, flowering period, growth & dormancy period.

Sources (10)
  1. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy – Opuntia humifusa · Scientific name · CC BY 4.0
  2. GBIF – synonyms · Synonyms · CC BY 4.0
  3. GBIF – distributions (Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS); The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP); The IUCN Red List of Thre) · Native distribution · CC BY 4.0
  4. Wikidata – Q134419 · CC0
  5. Wikidata – IUCN Red List status (P141) · Conservation status · CC0
  6. IUCN Red List · Conservation status
  7. Wikimedia Commons – Opuntia humifusa1UGA1120625.jpg · CC BY 3.0 us
  8. Wikipedia (hu) – Ördögnyelv-fügekaktusz · CC BY-SA 4.0
  9. Wikipedia (de) – Opuntia humifusa · CC BY-SA 4.0
  10. Wikipedia (en) – Opuntia humifusa · CC BY-SA 4.0
Community knowledge

Tips & experience from members

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Real data

How members water it

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Care guidelines

How it thrives

Partly general data for the genus Opuntia
Waterlow
Lightfull sun
Humiditylowgeneral genus data
Min. temperature-25 °C
Cold winter dormancy · general genus dataDifficulty: ●○○○○ · general genus data✓ Not known to be toxic · general genus data

No monthly schedule is shown because cultivar-/species-level data is not yet sufficient. The general values above are guidance only.

Opuntia tip: Its tiny glochids lodge in skin – handle it with tongs or folded newspaper.

⚠ Pets & children · genus Opuntia
Not known to be toxic 🐱 🐶 🧒details →

Glochids injure skin and mouth. De-spined pads are great tortoise food.

At a glance

Opuntia humifusa – what to know

Opuntia humifusa – family: Cactaceae, genus: Opuntia. Native range: North America, Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mexico Northeast, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jerse…. Care guidelines: light: full sun; water: low; min. -25 °C. One Perfect Plants Club member grows it (1 photos). It is not known to be toxic to cats or dogs.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I water Opuntia humifusa?

Sparingly: let the soil dry out completely between waterings, and water even less in winter.

How much light does Opuntia humifusa need?

It needs plenty of direct sun – the sunniest window, or outdoors in summer, suits it best.

How cold can Opuntia humifusa get?

Frost-hardy to about -25 °C – it can overwinter outdoors in many climates.

Is Opuntia humifusa toxic to cats and dogs?

It is not known to be toxic to cats or dogs.

When does Opuntia humifusa flower?

According to the general guideline for the genus Opuntia: Typical flowering time: May, June.

Community intelligence

What members’ data shows

When does it really bloom?

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Average watering interval

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Conversation

Questions about this species

Same genus

Opuntia

Data sources: GBIF.org – Opuntia humifusa (CC BY 4.0) · Wikidata – Q134419 (CC0) · Wikimedia Commons – Opuntia humifusa1UGA1120625.jpg (CC BY 3.0 us) · Wikipedia – Ördögnyelv-fügekaktusz (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Care data is for guidance only.

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