Botanical Name: Opuntia basilaris
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Common Name: Beavertail Prickly Pear Cactus  
Plant photo of: Opuntia basilaris
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Water Saving Tip:

Replace turf with groundcovers, trees, and shrubs. If you have areas where no one uses the grass, patches that do not grow well, or a turf area too small to water without runoff, consider replacing the turf with water-efficient landscaping.

  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Cactus

 

Height Range

1-3'

 

Flower Color

Pink, Red

 

Flower Season

Spring, Summer

 

Leaf Color

Blue Green, Grey Green

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

Blue, Green

 

Fruit Season

Summer, Fall

Information by: George Hull MSN
Photographer: Mountain States Nursery

  • Description

  • Notes

This cactus grows to 2' tall and 4' wide. Pads, which resemble Beaver tails, are blue-grey, sometimes with a bit of purple. New pads form on lower areas of the plant.. Flowers are intensely rose purple from spring to early summer. This plant prefers full sun with fast draining soil. It is drought tolerant once it's established.