Opuntia aurea 'Coombe's Winter Glow' is a low-growing prickly-pear cactus native to the high-elevation pinyon-juniper woodlands of southern Utah and northern Arizona. This hardy succulent thrives in Zones 4-9 and reaches just 6 to 12 inches tall, spreading 12 to 18 inches wide, making it small enough for containers yet substantial enough to naturalize in dry landscapes. Its distinctive blue-green, flattened pads are mostly spineless and bloom with showy yellow flowers from May through July, followed by equally striking edible fruit. The 'Coombe's Winter Glow' selection brings cold hardiness and compact growth to a plant that has survived for millennia in harsh desert conditions.
60
Full Sun
Moderate
4-9
12in H x 18in W
—
Low
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This diminutive prickly-pear thrives where other plants surrender to drought and poor soil, asking only full sun and well-draining earth. The nearly spineless blue-green pads are a tactile delight, and the showy yellow blooms in late spring give way to edible fruits that birds and humans alike covet. Its hardiness to Zone 4 (though typically rated Zone 5, some sources confirm Zone 4 viability) makes it surprisingly cold-tolerant for a desert cactus, while the compact mature size means it fits anywhere a gardener has full sun and sandy soil.
Prickly-pear is grown primarily for its edible fruits, which develop after flowering and can be harvested and eaten fresh or processed into juices, jams, and traditional preparations. The plant's ability to thrive in arid, rocky, and shallow soils makes it valuable for naturalizing in dry gardens and xeriscaping. Its low-growing, spreading habit and dramatic seasonal color changes also serve ornamental purposes in landscapes where water conservation is essential.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Prickly-pear is best propagated from pad cuttings rather than seed. Sever healthy pads at the joint during the active growing season, allow the wound to dry for one week, then plant the joint end down directly into the garden or into a potting medium if starting in containers. Plant in full sun with excellent drainage.
Harvest edible fruits once they fully develop after the showy flowers fade in summer and early fall. Fruits are ready when they detach easily from the pad with gentle pressure. Wear gloves or use tongs when handling to avoid the fine spines (glochids) that cover the fruit skin, even on nearly spineless varieties.
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