Cactus · Sonoran native
Engelmann's Prickly Pear
Opuntia engelmannii · Cactaceae
Also called: Cactus Apple, Desert Prickly Pear, Engelmann Prickly Pear
Engelmann's Prickly Pear (Opuntia engelmannii) is a very low-water cactus native to the Sonoran Desert region well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It thrives in full sun, with a moderate growth rate.
Engelmann's Prickly Pear at a glance
- Water use
- Very Low (established)
- Sun
- Full sun; tolerates intense reflected heat. Will grow in light shade but is denser and more compact in full sun.
- Mature size
- 3-5 ft H x 6-10 ft W (can form broad clumps to 10+ ft wide)
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Bloom
- Yellow, sometimes aging to apricot/orange; occasionally reddish, Spring, typically April to May
- Cold hardiness
- Very cold hardy for a desert cactus; tolerates temperatures into the low teens F (USDA zone 8-11).
- Soil
- Highly adaptable; tolerates rocky, sandy, gravelly, and even heavier soils as long as drainage is reasonable.
- Native range
- Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts; widespread across Arizona, the southwestern U.S., and northern Mexico. One of the most common prickly pears around Tucson.
- Best used as
- Barrier and security planting, Wildlife habitat, Edible fruit (tunas) and young pads (nopales), Native and revegetation landscapes, Erosion control on slopes
- Wildlife
- High value: flowers attract native bees and other pollinators; fruit eaten by javelina, birds, tortoises, and rodents; pads browsed by javelina; provides cover and nesting structure for birds such as cactus wren and thrasher.
- Toxicity
- Not chemically toxic; the spines and especially the tiny barbed glochids are a physical hazard and can cause skin irritation. Fruit and pads are edible to humans after careful spine/glochid removal.
How to grow Engelmann's Prickly Pear in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Extremely drought tolerant once established and survives on rainfall alone in Tucson; occasional deep soakings (monthly or less) in extreme summer drought improve appearance and fruiting. Avoid overwatering.
Fertilizer & nutrients
None required in native desert soils; not recommended, as fertilizing promotes weak, overly lush growth.
Pruning & care
Remove pads with tongs to control size and spread or to shape; cut at the joint between pads. Wear leather gloves and beware of fine glochids.
Notes
A keystone Sonoran Desert species and excellent low-water choice for Tucson. Forms large clumps over time, so allow ample space. Fruit ripens to red-purple in summer and is used for jelly, syrup, and juice.
Sources: AMWUA Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert; Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; Tohono Chul