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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Opuntia engelmannii (Cactus apple)
Lytle, Melody

Opuntia engelmannii

Opuntia engelmannii Salm-Dyck ex Engelm.

Cactus Apple, Prickly Pear

Cactaceae (Cactus Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: OPEN3

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

The species of this plant is named for George Engelmann (1809-1884) who was born in Germany and settled in St. Louis, Missouri, as a young man. He was a physician and botanist, describing especially North American Abies (Firs), Agaves, Cactus (for which he described more than 108 species), Cuscuta (Dodder), Euphorbiaceae (Spurge Family), Juncus (Rushes), Juniperus (“Cedar”), Pinus (Pines), Vitis (Grapes), and Yuccas. When he died much of his collection went to Missouri Botanical Garden.

 

From the Image Gallery

39 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Cactus/Succulent
Fruit Type: Berry
Size Notes: Up tp 4 feet 9 inches high; joints are broadly oval, 8-12 inches long.
Flower: Flowers up to about 2 inches diameter.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun
Bloom Notes: Diurnal.

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , LA , MO , MS , NM , NV , OK , TX , UT
Native Distribution: Widespread in Mexico and southern US states.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Heat Tolerant: yes
Conditions Comments: Minimum temperature 50F

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Edible plants native to Austin, TX
August 05, 2009
Hello, I am a chef from Buenos Aires Argentina visiting Austin, Texas and would like to learn about native, edible plants in the region. Please let me know if there are any native, edible plants...
view the full question and answer

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Nueces River Authority - Uvalde, TX
NPSOT - Fredericksburg Chapter - Fredericksburg, TX
Jacob's Well Natural Area - Wimberley, TX

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-200 Collected 2007-11-21 in Travis County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

1 collection(s) available in the Wildflower Center Seed Bank

Additional resources

USDA: Find Opuntia engelmannii in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Opuntia engelmannii in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Opuntia engelmannii

Metadata

Record Modified: 2018-05-06
Research By: TWC Staff

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