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Opuntia engelmannii var. linguiformis - Prickly Pear

Opuntia engelmannii var.linguiformis
Cow's Tongue Prickly Pear, Long-Tongue Prickly Pear, Cow Tongue Cactus

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Plant received a bit shaken, with some of the soil and roots exposed. 4 cuttings, which bodes well for a beautiful growth in the spring.

Kellordas, 24/01/2024

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This plant carries a 12 months recovery warranty

More information

Original due to its prickly pear-shaped pads, this plant remains decorative all year round. Resistant to -15°C (5°F) without protection, however, this variety is not wind or snow tolerant as these conditions can break its prickly pear pads. Amazing, graphic, exotic, this plant can be grown in the ground in many regions!
Flower size
7 cm
Height at maturity
1.50 m
Spread at maturity
1.50 m
Exposure
Sun
Hardiness
Hardy down to -18°C
Soil moisture
Dry soil
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Best planting time March, September to October
Recommended planting time February to April, August to September
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Flowering time May to June
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Description

The Opuntia engelmannii var. linguiformis is hardy, bushy and dense, distinctive and decorative all year round. It is characterized by its thin, long and narrow pads, its beautiful and abundant spring flowering in yellow-orange, and its red fruits that remain decorative throughout the winter. While it can withstand up to -15°C in a sheltered position and well-drained soil, this particularly elegant form is sensitive to wind and snow, which can damage its pads. The prickly pears, true camel plants, thrive in dry gardens, large rock gardens, and arid slopes, against a backdrop of blue sky and austere rocks.

 

The Opuntia engelmannii, a close relative of the Prickly Pear (Opuntia ficus indica), is a succulent plant devoid of true leaves from the cactus family. This botanical species is native to Texas, where it grows along the Rio Grande River and in the surrounding plains. The linguiformis variety has become very rare in its original habitat. An adult plant can reach 1.5 meters (5 feet) in 4 or 5 years under favorable conditions. The vegetation consists of a stout trunk, lignifying with age, which divides into flat, thin branches of very elongated to triangular shape, called articles or pads. These segments easily orient themselves towards the sun from a young age. Their surface, gray-green in color, takes on pinkish hues in winter when exposed to full sun. They are abundantly covered with large golden prickles with a red base, which turn brown over time, as well as tiny prickles called glochides, clustered in small round tufts, which are very dangerous when handling. The flowering takes place in May-June, in abundance. Several flowers appear on the edges of the pads, mainly towards their tips. The marbled orange-yellow petals are highlighted by a diaphanous texture. They are followed by fruits heavily covered with glochides, which turn violet-purple when ripe and persist throughout the winter before falling. While they are edible, they are less flavorful than those of the Prickly Pear.

 

Cultivable in almost all our regions, this cactus is hardy up to -15°C (5°F) without protection, but in well-drained, rocky, stony or sandy soil. It naturally structures exotic and contemporary landscapes and can be integrated into a deterrent defensive hedge. It will find its place in a large rock garden, or a gravel bed where its sharp silhouette will stand out beautifully against a mineral and austere backdrop, populated with some grasses, agaves, Hesperaloe parviflora, and arborescent Euphorbias (E.mellifera or dendroides). Hardy cactus candles (Cleistocactus strausii, Cylindropuntia imbricata) and large cistus plants (Cistus laurifolius) can be associated with it, as they are equally frugal and undemanding. It should be kept away from pathways and children due to its formidable spines, as well as those that are transparent, almost invisible to the naked eye, which penetrate our skin with disconcerting ease and are difficult to remove.

 

Opuntia engelmannii var. linguiformis - Prickly Pear in pictures

Opuntia engelmannii var. linguiformis - Prickly Pear (Flowering) Flowering
Opuntia engelmannii var. linguiformis - Prickly Pear (Foliage) Foliage
Opuntia engelmannii var. linguiformis - Prickly Pear (Plant habit) Plant habit

Flowering

Flower colour yellow
Flowering time May to June
Inflorescence Solitary
Flower size 7 cm

Foliage

Foliage persistence Evergreen
Foliage colour green

Plant habit

Height at maturity 1.50 m
Spread at maturity 1.50 m
Growth rate fast

Botanical data

Genus

Opuntia

Species

engelmannii var.linguiformis

Family

Cactaceae

Other common names

Cow's Tongue Prickly Pear, Long-Tongue Prickly Pear, Cow Tongue Cactus

Origin

North America

Product reference834041

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Planting and care

Plant the Opuntia engelmannii var. linguiformis in spring or early autumn, in full sun, or partial shade in hot and dry climates, in a preferably poor, even stony, limestone, sandy, but well-drained siol. It tolerates winter humidity in porous soil, and appreciates dry, even arid soils in summer. It will withstand intense frosts, up to about -18°C (1°F). Its articles sometimes collapse in winter, due to the cold, but 'reinflate' in spring. This species also tolerates sea spray and can therefore be grown in coastal regions. It is not known be susceptible to any pests.

Culture substrate: 3/4 potting soil + 1/4 vegetable soil + organic fertilizer for potted plants. Sandy, very stony soil, poor in clay for open ground cultivation.

Propagation by cutting is easy: take a cutting at a joint, place it on a cactus-type substrate for a few days, until a healing callus forms. Then, bury the base of the cutting a little deeper into the soil and water regularly. The plant will not flower or bear fruit before the age of 3 years.

Handle your cacti with gloves and protective goggles.

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Planting period

Best planting time March, September to October
Recommended planting time February to April, August to September

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Rockery
Type of use Border, Free-standing, Hedge, Slope
Hardiness Hardy down to -18°C (USDA zone 7a) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Planting density 1 per m2
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Neutral, Calcareous
Soil type Chalky (poor, alkaline and well-drained), Stony (poor and well-drained)
Soil moisture Dry soil, Very well-drained, poor soil.

Care

Pruning No pruning necessary
Disease resistance Very good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground
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