Opuntia rufida
| Light | Bright light to full sun |
|---|---|
| Water | Sparingly; allow to dry out completely between waterings, dry rest in winter |
| Soil | Fast-draining, gritty mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; hardy to roughly USDA zone 9 |
| Propagation | Pad cuttings (primary); seed |
| Toxicity | No systemic toxicity, but the glochids are a serious mechanical irritant to people and animals |
Opuntia rufida is a shrubby, essentially spineless prickly pear from the Chihuahuan Desert whose rounded, blue-green pads are studded with dense tufts of cinnamon-brown glochids in place of ordinary spines. These rusty tufts give it the common names cinnamon cactus and blind prickly pear — the latter from a long-standing reputation that its shed glochids can lodge in the eyes of browsing livestock and cause blindness. It is closely allied to the popular bunny-ears cactus, and by some authorities is treated as a variety of it (Opuntia microdasys var. rufida).
Description
Opuntia rufida grows as an upright, branching shrub, in time reaching a metre or more tall and forming a broad clump of stacked pads. The pads (cladodes) are rounded to obovate, thick, and a soft grey- to blue-green, with a slightly velvety surface. What sets the species apart is its complete lack of the long, rigid spines typical of most prickly pears: the areoles instead bear only closely packed cushions of short, reddish-brown to cinnamon glochids — tiny, barbed bristles that detach at the lightest touch.
In summer the pad margins carry shallow, cup-shaped flowers that open yellow and age to a warm orange, followed by rounded reddish fruits. From a distance the plant looks deceptively soft and pettable, which is precisely the trap the glochids set.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to the Chihuahuan Desert of northern Mexico and adjacent Texas, notably in the Big Bend country along the Rio Grande. It grows on rocky desert slopes, canyon sides and gravelly flats, in full sun and sharply drained ground, tolerating intense heat and prolonged drought.
Cultivation
Opuntia rufida is an easy, sun-loving plant given the two things it insists on: strong light and a very free-draining mix. Grow it in a gritty, mostly mineral substrate, water thoroughly only once the soil has dried right through, and keep it dry and cool over winter, when it is far hardier to cold if kept bone dry. Too little light produces weak, elongated pads, while overwatering — especially in cool weather — is the main cause of rot.
The real consideration with this species is handling. The cinnamon glochids look harmless but shed at a touch and are miserable to remove from skin; always handle the plant with thick gloves or folded newspaper, and site it away from paths, pets and children. See Watering and Repotting for general technique, and Pests and diseases for common issues.
Propagation
The simplest method is vegetative: detach a healthy pad, let the cut surface callus over for several days to a week in a dry, shaded spot, then set it upright in barely moist gritty mix and withhold heavy watering until roots form. Handle pads with gloves throughout. The species can also be raised from seed, though this is slower and less common in cultivation. See Propagation - cuttings for the full walkthrough.
Common problems
- Glochid irritation — by far the most frequent complaint; the barbed bristles embed in skin and are hard to extract. Prevention (gloves, careful placement) beats cure.
- Rot — from overwatering or a poorly draining mix, particularly in winter; pads soften, discolour and collapse.
- Etiolation — insufficient light produces pale, thin, stretched pads instead of firm rounded ones.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff in the areoles), scale, and cochineal (a white waxy coating harbouring red insects) can all trouble Opuntia.
See also
- Opuntia — the genus overview
- Propagation - cuttings · Soil and potting mix · Watering · Pests and diseases