Prickly Pear Cactus 'Flame Thrower' (Opuntia humifusa x) COLD HARDY

Prickly Pear Cactus 'Flame Thrower'

Opuntia humifusa x

Live Cuttings (3"-5" pads) & Live Plants (3" & 6" pots) - Cold Hardy -20F!

Prickly Pear Cactus 'Flame Thrower' (Opuntia humifusa x) is a rare and beautiful accidental hybridization of Opuntia humifusa and an unconfirmed variety that we suspect to be O. woodsii, giving this hybrid a vivid flower that mimics a flame as the flowers change color from red, to orange, to finally to yellow and cream. A truly spectacular opuntia hybrid that every serious cactus collector would want in their garden! This variety grows very large, bright green (almost lime colored) pads that are nearly spineless and edible and delicious once cleaned and cooked. This variety also produces "wet fruit" or edible fruit that once cleaned can be made into jelly, juice, and jams. This variety seems to be more tolerant of moisture as well, so much so it's as if they prefer it. Reaching approximately 2-4 feet tall by 3-5 feet wide (if kept unpruned). This is one the larger variety of prickly pear cactus we grow and has been growing completely unprotected for decades in the cold high desert region of central Oregon, zone 6b/7a, repeatedly seeing temps below zero and single digit degrees F! These have been planted as far north as Canada and as far east as Maine, surviving temps below -20 degrees F!!

Rooting or Planting instructions included.