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Cactus

Bunny ears cactus

Opuntia microdasys

Angel's-wingsCow-BlinderDwarf CactusGarden-Cactus
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Botanical fact sheet

Opuntia microdasys (Lehm.) Pfeiff.

⚙ Automatic base data
Common name
Bunny ears cactus, Angel's-wings, Cow-Blinder, Dwarf Cactus4
Taxonomy
Family: Cactaceae · Genus: Opuntia1
Native distribution
North America, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southwest, Jardín Botánico de Bogotá, Global, Brazil, France, Turkey, conterminous 48 United States, South Africa, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Gautenguncertain3
Conservation status
LC Least concern (IUCN)56
Synonyms
9 synonyms
  • Cactus microdasys Lehm.
  • Opuntia macrocalyx Griffiths
  • Opuntia microdasys minor (Salm-Dyck) Schelle
  • Opuntia microdasys microdasys
  • Opuntia microdasys albispina Fobe
  • Opuntia microdasys laevior Salm-Dyck
  • Opuntia microdasys minor Salm-Dyck
  • Opuntia microdasys pallida Borg
  • Opuntia pulvinata DC.
2

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

Sources (7)
  1. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy – Opuntia microdasys · 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); Lista de Especies de la C) · Native distribution · CC BY 4.0
  4. Wikidata – Q310523 · CC0
  5. Wikidata – IUCN Red List status (P141) · Conservation status · CC0
  6. IUCN Red List · Conservation status
  7. Wikimedia Commons – Opuntia microdasys 3.jpg · CC BY-SA 3.0
Community knowledge

Tips & experience from members

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Real data

How members water it

Not enough logs yet: at least 3 plants with regular watering logs are needed (now: 0). Waterings logged in Care feed this – anonymised and aggregated.

Care guidelines

How it thrives

Partly general data for the genus Opuntia
Waterlow
Lightfull sun
Humiditylowgeneral genus data
Min. temperature5 °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

Bunny ears cactus – what to know

Bunny ears cactus (Opuntia microdasys) – family: Cactaceae, genus: Opuntia. Native range: North America, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southwest, Jardín Botánico de Bogotá, Global, Brazil, France, Turkey, conterminous 48 Un…. Care guidelines: light: full sun; water: low; min. 5 °C. It is not known to be toxic to cats or dogs.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I water Bunny ears cactus?

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

How much light does Bunny ears cactus need?

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

How cold can Bunny ears cactus get?

Keep it above 5 °C – it is frost-tender and needs a frost-free spot in winter.

Is Bunny ears cactus toxic to cats and dogs?

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

When does Bunny ears cactus 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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Who grows it?

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Conversation

Questions about this species

Same genus

Opuntia

Data sources: GBIF.org – Opuntia microdasys (CC BY 4.0) · Wikidata – Q310523 (CC0) · Wikimedia Commons – Opuntia microdasys 3.jpg (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Care data is for guidance only.

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