Santa Rita Pricklypear
Opuntia gosseliniana
- Native to:
- Mexico, United States
Sue in az,H. Zell,CactiLegacy,Ken Bosma (www.flickr.com) from Green Valley, Arizona, USA,Photo by David J. Stang,Stan Shebs,Photo by David J. Stang,ALAN SCHMIERER (www.flickr.com),Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz,Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz,Photo by David J. Stang,Photo by David J. Stang
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Cactaceae
- Genus:
- Opuntia
- Species:
- Opuntia gosseliniana
- USDA Symbol:
- OPSA
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 90 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow, pink
Keystone Species Ranking
- Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals, pollinators
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Can resprout from base after fire damage; pads may survive low-intensity burns.
Propagation & Germination
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 14–90 days
- Notes:
- Seeds benefit from scarification of the hard seed coat. Germination is often erratic and may require warm temperatures.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI