- Home
- Cold-Hardy
- Opuntia
- Opuntia erinacea var. columbiana
Opuntia erinacea var. columbiana
The plant likes full sun, but can also tolerate partial shade. It is suitable for rock gardens or portable containers.
Water the plant in the pot after the substrate has dried out. Do not water in winter.
The plant is frost-resistant and can withstand temperatures down to -25 °C.
Frost-resistant cacti thrive best in full sun and well-drained, gravelly soil.
Opuntia erinacea var. columbiana, also known as Opuntia × columbiana, is a cold-hardy prickly pear native to North America. It occurs mainly east of the Cascade Range in Washington State, as well as in central British Columbia, eastern Oregon, and extends into western and southern Idaho. It grows from plains and foothills up to lower mountain elevations.
The plant forms a low, cushion-like shrub with prostrate to slightly ascending growth and reaches a height of around 30 cm. Individual pads are green, flattened, and narrowly to broadly obovate in shape, measuring up to about 9 × 5 cm. The pad surface carries areoles with mostly white, straight, needle-like spines.
The flowers are bright yellow and appear from May to July. They stand out clearly above the low-growing pads and give the plant a strong seasonal presence during flowering.
Opuntia erinacea var. columbiana is a very resilient species best grown in a sunny position with a well-drained substrate. Thanks to its compact habit and good cold tolerance, it is also suitable for rock gardens and outdoor plantings. It is an excellent choice for growers looking for a low-growing, reliable prickly pear for long-term outdoor cultivation.