Botanical Name: Opuntia basilaris
Common Name: Beavertail cactus
Type of Plant: Dicot: succulent
 
Habit of Growth:
Overall Shape a very distinctive prickly-pear cactus, with pale lavender obovate to round fleshy modified stems; forms a low open mound with age
Height 1 - 2ft
Spread equal or more
Growth Rate slow
 
Environment:
Exposure full sun preferred; tolerates some shade if grown in container
Soil thrives in sandy soils; tolerates heavier if watered only seldom
Hardiness hardy (zones 11-13, 18-24): prefers warm dry inland habitats
 
Morphology:
Leaves absent - the flattened “stem joints” (“pads”) are photosynthetic; pads are pale lavender, flattened, oval - obovate; 8 - 12" long x 5 - 8" wide; are spineless but have numerous deciduous little glochids at the nodes (areoles)
Flowers bright rose-lavender, solitary, many-petaled and many-stamened, 3" across; borne on upper edge of the upright pads; April - June
Fruit somewhat fleshy berry, 1 - 2" long; greenish tan when ripe (fall)
 
Propagation:
seed; pads are slow to root compared to many other prickly pear cacti
 
Usage:
a very distinctive small accent shrub for its unusual-colored fleshy pads, showy flower display in late spring, and low open clumping form; best in desert, Mediterranean or dry-woodland theme gardens; excellent container plant
 
Landscape Care:
Watering little required after establishment; twice a month when grown in a container - once a month if planted
Fertilizing none required except of grown in container
Pruning not required
Pests/Diseases relatively free - may get scale/mealybug if grown in shade
Special Conditions/Other avoid frequent watering if plant grown in heavier soils
 
Origin: low-elevation hillsides of southwestern United States deserts (California/Arizona)
Family: Cactaceae

Notes:
 
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