Opuntia humifusa

Last summer when I took Herbaceous Plant Identification at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden I was shocked how some of our native to New York plants could be so tropical looking! For instance, the Sarracenia sp., or Pitcher Plant, are carnivorous plants that live in boggy/moist areas and seem better suited to the Amazon then to Eastern North America.

Opuntia humifusa, or Prickly Pear, is another example of a tropical-looking plant that is native to New York. It's a cactus and I am lucky to have one blooming right now! It has these wide, flat "modified stems" that lay down and shrivel during the winter. Here is the Prickly Pear at the BBG during the winter. It looks like the whole plant has seen better days and you better chuck it.

But wait! In the spring, the large stems swell with water and perk back up. Here is mine, perky and verdant about a month ago.

These are the flower buds starting to form.

And now! Ta-da!





Large, bright, lemony-yellow flowers. Absolutely beautiful! Here is the one at the BBG. Winter vs. Summer.

I suggest everyone go out and buy an Opuntia humifusa!