Opuntia encompasses a variety of cacti that can grow as sprawling, bush-like forms or even resemble small trees. These plants typically feature flattened stem segments that are equipped with spines and barbed bristles. They produce funnel-shaped blossoms that give way to fleshy fruits covered in spines.

Opuntia

Opuntia 'Budapest'

Opuntia 'Claude Arno'

Opuntia 'Semi Inermis'

Opuntia 'Super Rutila 2'

Opuntia 'Super Rutila'

Opuntia 'Titania'

Opuntia aciculata

Opuntia anacantha

Opuntia arechavatetae

Opuntia arenaria

Opuntia arenaria from El Paso County, Texas

Opuntia atrispina

Opuntia aurantiaca

Opuntia aurea

Opuntia aurea red-flowered, from St George, Utah

Opuntia aureispina

Opuntia austrina

Opuntia azurea

Opuntia basilaris

Opuntia basilaris 'Berlin'

Opuntia basilaris from Silver Peak, Nevada

Opuntia basilaris from Tonopah, Nevada

Opuntia basilaris from Yucca Valley, California

Opuntia basilaris var. cordata

Opuntia beckeriana

Opuntia bentonii

Opuntia bentonii from Galveston, Texas

Opuntia bergeriana is a shrubby cactus that resembles a small tree, often referred to as prickly pear. Its stems are flat, paddle-shaped segments covered in spines. In April or May, it produces orange to red flowers that bloom for an extended time. After flowering, egg-shaped fruits develop, maturing to a red-pink hue. This plant thrives in containers and is drought-resistant once it is well-established.

Opuntia bergeriana

Opuntia camptotricha

Opuntia cantabrigiensis

Opuntia chisosensis from Brewster County, Texas

Opuntia chlorotica

Opuntia chlorotica 'Kurt'

Opuntia crassa

Opuntia cultivar from Hungary

Opuntia curassavica

Opuntia cyclodes

Opuntia elata

Opuntia elatior

Opuntia engelmannii

Opuntia engelmannii f. inerme

Opuntia engelmannii from Beeville, Texas

Opuntia engelmannii from Carrizozo, New Mexico

Opuntia engelmannii var. engelmannii

Opuntia engelmannii var. engelmannii 'Natural Bridge'

Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri

Opuntia engelmannii var. sandia

Opuntia ficus-indica is a robust, tree-like cactus characterized by its segmented, spiny, flat stems that are typically grey to green in color. From spring through summer, it produces bowl-shaped flowers in shades of yellow or orange, which are succeeded by fruit that can be purple, orange, or red.

Opuntia ficus-indica

Opuntia ficus-indica 'Dar 1-12-19 Red' (F)

Opuntia ficus-indica 'Dar 1-27-24 Orange' (F)

Opuntia fragilis

Opuntia fragilis 'Lake of the Woods'

Opuntia fragilis 'Pont'

Opuntia fragilis from Black Canyon, Gunnison, Colorado

Opuntia fragilis var. denudata

Opuntia galapageia

Opuntia galapageia subvar. barringtonensis

Opuntia glaucophylla

Opuntia gosseliniana

Opuntia haematocarpa

Opuntia horstii

Opuntia humifusa

Opuntia humifusa 'Grandiflora'

Opuntia humifusa 'Louisiana'

Opuntia humifusa from Monmouth County, New Jersey

Opuntia humifusa subsp. littoica

Opuntia jamaicensis

Opuntia leptocarpa

Opuntia leucotricha

Opuntia littoralis

Opuntia macrocentra

Opuntia macrocentra 'Alba'

Opuntia macrocentra 'Violacea'

Opuntia macrocentra from Antelope Wells, New Mexico

Opuntia macrocentra from Eddy County, New Mexico

Opuntia macrocentra from Orogrande, New Mexico

Opuntia macrocentra from Rincon, New Mexico

Opuntia macrorhiza

Opuntia macrorhiza 'Apricot'

Opuntia macrorhiza 'Viola'

Opuntia macrorhiza from Huerfano County, Colorado

Opuntia macrorhiza from Kenton, Oklahoma

Opuntia macrorhiza from Reagan County, Texas

Opuntia maxima

Opuntia megapotamica

Opuntia megapotamica from La Cumbrecita, Argentina

Opuntia microdasys is a perennial cactus characterized by its bushy growth and flattened, segmented stems that range from oval to round in shape, exhibiting a light to mid-green hue. The stems are densely covered with white areoles, each featuring tiny bristle-like spines that can be white, yellow, or reddish-brown. In summer, this cactus produces bowl-shaped yellow flowers that measure 4 to 5 cm in diameter.

Opuntia microdasys

This bushy cactus reaches a height of up to 60 cm and features branched stems made up of flattened pads, each measuring up to 15 cm in length. The areoles are distinct, adorned with short, white glochids. The flowers are pale yellow and measure approximately 4 cm in diameter, while the fruits are purple and can grow to 4.5 cm in size.