Flower profile
Plains pricklypear
Opuntia polyacantha
Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) is a shrub in the Cactaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly May–July across the U.S.
Plains pricklypear is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 10 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in May–July.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming
Quick look
Opuntia polyacantha is a common species of cactus known by the common names plains pricklypear, starvation pricklypear, hairspine cactus, and panhandle pricklypear.
- It belongs to the Cactaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 18 states. USDA PLANTS
- In Colorado, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–July. iNaturalist
- In Utah, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–June. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late spring. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 2 ft. USDA PLANTS
- iNaturalist has 6,301 research-grade sightings of it in Colorado, ranking #10 among the 160 flowers on our Colorado list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 5,394 research-grade sightings of it in Utah, ranking #1 among the 153 flowers on our Utah list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 3,578 research-grade sightings of it in Nevada, ranking #7 among the 132 flowers on our Nevada list. iNaturalist
When does it bloom?
Bloom time in the 10 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
| State | Type | Peak bloom | Sightings* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | Native | June–July | 6,301 |
| Utah | Native | April–June | 5,394 |
| Nevada | Native | April–June | 3,578 |
| New Mexico | Native | May–June | 1,479 |
| Wyoming | Native | few records (46) | 1,468 |
| Montana | Native | few records (48) | 1,439 |
| Idaho | Native | June | 1,367 |
| South Dakota | Native | few records (22) | 927 |
| North Dakota | Native | June–July | 791 |
| Nebraska | Native | few records (2) | 212 |
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
- Colorado
- No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Colorado.
- Utah
- No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Utah.
- Nevada
- Not listed Not on Nevada fully protected plants, critically endangered (NAC 527.010). NatureServe: S5, secure in Nevada. NAC 527.010
- New Mexico
- Not listed Not on New Mexico state endangered plant species (19.21.2.9 NMAC). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Mexico. 19.21.2.9 NMAC
- Wyoming
- No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Wyoming.
- Montana
- No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Montana.
- Idaho
- No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Idaho.
- South Dakota
- No list South Dakota's endangered and threatened list (ARSD 41:10:02) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's South Dakota ranks for plants. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in South Dakota.
- North Dakota
- No list North Dakota has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's North Dakota ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in North Dakota.
- Nebraska
- Not listed Not on Nebraska threatened and endangered species (163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4, § 004). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Nebraska. 163 NAC 4-004
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: OK (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.
ASPCA's entry “Tree Cactus” (Opuntia species), which covers the whole genus, lists it as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Eating lots of any plant can still upset a pet's stomach. ASPCA
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records plains pricklypear in 18 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.
Colorado counties with USDA records: Adams, Alamosa, Baca, Bent, Boulder, Chaffee, Cheyenne, Crowley, Custer, Dolores, El Paso, Fremont, Garfield, Gilpin, Grand, Jefferson, Kiowa, Larimer, Las Animas, Lincoln, Logan, Mesa, Moffat, Montezuma, Montrose, Morgan, Otero, Ouray, Pueblo, Rio Blanco, Routt, San Miguel, Sedgwick, Teller, Washington, Weld.
Utah counties with USDA records: Beaver, Box Elder, Cache, Carbon, Daggett, Davis, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, Millard, Morgan, Piute, Rich, Salt Lake, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, Washington, Wayne, Weber.
Nevada counties with USDA records: Carson City, Churchill, Clark, Douglas, Elko, Esmeralda, Eureka, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Storey, Washoe, White Pine.
Growing conditions
USDA PLANTS gives Plains pricklypear a high shade tolerance, high drought tolerance and low moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 7.0 to 8.8 and winter lows down to -28 °F.
- Shade tolerance
- High
- Drought tolerance
- High
- Moisture use
- Low
- Soil textures it is adapted to
- coarse, medium, fine
- Soil pH range
- 7.0 to 8.8
- Minimum temperature tolerated
- -28 °F
- Frost-free days needed (minimum)
- 200
- Annual precipitation range
- 10 to 20 inches
- Minimum root depth
- 12 inches
- Salinity tolerance
- None
- Fertility requirement
- Low
- Growth rate
- Rapid
- Lifespan
- Moderate
- Active growth period
- Spring, Summer, Fall
- Fruit or seed
- Red · Summer to Fall
- Can be propagated by
- bare root, container, cuttings, seed
- Commercial availability
- Contracting Only
From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for OPPO. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.
Names, range and relatives
Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.
County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 239 counties across 15 states; the most are in Colorado (36), New Mexico (30), Utah (29).
Other Opuntia on Bloomipedia (11): Beavertail pricklypear, Brown-spined pricklypear, Low pricklypear, Engelmann's pricklypear, Prairie pricklypear, Brittle pricklypear, Pancake pricklypear, Florida pricklypear, Grassland pricklypear, Golden pricklypear.
More from the Cactaceae family (37 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Saguaro, California barrel cactus, Fishhook barrel cactus, Christmas cholla, Silver cholla, Tree cholla, Buckhorn cholla, Teddybear cholla.
More Colorado flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile OPPO.
- iNaturalist, Opuntia polyacantha: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Opuntia polyacantha (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- State rare and invasive plant lists (13):
Show all 13 state lists
- Colorado: Colorado noxious weed lists A, B and C (8 CCR 1206-2, eff. May 15, 2025).
- Utah: Utah noxious weed list (Utah Admin. Code R68-9-3).
- Nevada: Nevada fully protected plants, critically endangered (NAC 527.010).
- Nevada: Nevada noxious weeds (NAC 555.010).
- New Mexico: New Mexico state endangered plant species (19.21.2.9 NMAC).
- New Mexico: New Mexico Noxious Weed List (NM Department of Agriculture, updated June 2020).
- Wyoming: Wyoming state designated noxious weeds (W.S. 11-5-102(a)(xi)), as listed by the Wyoming Weed & Pest Council.
- Montana: Montana noxious weed list (Admin. R. Mont. 4.5.206–4.5.210).
- Idaho: Idaho noxious weeds (IDAPA 02.06.09, Section 220).
- South Dakota: South Dakota statewide noxious weeds (ARSD 12:62:03:01.06).
- North Dakota: North Dakota state noxious weeds (N.D. Admin. Code 7-06-01-02), as listed by the ND Department of Agriculture.
- Nebraska: Nebraska threatened and endangered species (163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4, § 004).
- Nebraska: Nebraska noxious weeds (25 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 10, § 001.02).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Opuntia polyacantha (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: ASPCA.
- Photo: criminy via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.