Opuntia lubrica - Prickly Pear

The Opuntia lubrica is a variety of prickly pear that is interesting for its cold resistance, but also for the beautiful coloration of its prickly pear pads. The plant, wider than it is tall, is characterized by a succession of modest-sized pads, often devoid of spines but covered in small tufts of yellow glochids that turn rusty, very decorative but irritating. The plant blooms in spring, offering delicate bright yellow flowers. In favorable climates, these flowers give way to pretty small bright red fruits. This Opuntia thrives easily in pots or in the ground, in a very well-drained substrate, without requiring any particular maintenance.

The Opuntia lubrica is a botanical species related to the Prickly Pear (Opuntia ficus-indica). It is a succulent plant in the cactus family. It originates from desert areas in Mexico and Texas, usually on limestone, sandy or rocky soil. Like all prickly pears, it has a very stout trunk that lignifies with age, dividing into flattened fleshy branches called pads. An adult specimen will reach about 80-90 cm (32-35in) in height and 1.20 m (4ft) in width, sometimes more in favorable conditions. With moderate growth, the plant produces 1 or 2 new pads per year from spring to autumn. The shiny surface, glaucous green in color, is adorned with numerous small tufts of tiny prickles that resemble hairs but are very irritating and unpleasant when in contact with the skin. Flowering occurs from May to July, earlier or later depending on the climate and under favorable conditions. Several cup-shaped flowers with a diameter of 4 cm (2in) appear on the edges of the pads, mainly towards their ends. These flowers have fine, slightly translucent petals. They are a bright yellow, usually washed with green in the center, and sometimes fade to a coppery or slightly orange hue. The fruit is bright red, covered in numerous glochids, and contains a juicy, acidic pulp filled with small seeds.

Hardy Opuntias are emblematic cacti of the desolate and arid expanses of Northern America. These succulent plants naturally find their place in dry gardens alongside other more traditional bushes, with which they harmonize well. They can be associated with rock roses, lavender, rosemary, Teucrium, and dry-loving euphorbias. This lubrica species is resistant to frost down to -15°C in dry soil. It can be grown in the ground in a dry rockery or on a dry slope in many regions that are not too humid in winter. They can be grown in pots which allows for sheltering the plants from winter humidity. It is advisable to keep this plant away from pathways and children, due to its formidable tiny spines, transparent and almost invisible to the naked eye, which penetrate our skin with disconcerting ease and are very difficult to remove.