Gold Spine Prickly Pear Cactus

Gold Spine Prickly Pear Cactus

1 Gallon
$16.00
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Gold Spine Prickly Pear Cactus
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Gold Spine Prickly Pear Cactus

Opuntia scheeri

Ornamental Golden Spines • Compact, Mounding Habit • Eye-Catching Color & Texture

$16.00
Container sizeSize guide

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Size, shape and branching naturally vary

Description

The Gold Spine Prickly Pear is a dazzling ornamental variety, celebrated for its vibrant golden-yellow spines that glow in the sunlight against the blue-green pads. Its spines are dense but relatively short, creating a stunning textural and color contrast. It produces typical prickly pear flowers and fruit but is primarily grown for its exceptional visual appeal, serving as a focal point in rock gardens or dry borders.

  • Grown for its stunning ornamental appeal: blue-green pads densely covered with short, bright golden-yellow spines.

  • A slow-growing, compact prickly pear with a mounding or spreading habit.

  • Produces yellow to orange flowers and edible red-purple fruit, though fruiting may be less prolific.

  • Extremely drought tolerant and thrives in full sun and poor, gritty soil.

  • An excellent choice for adding striking color and texture to cactus gardens, containers, or as a specimen.

Quick Facts

  • Features:Flat, oval-shaped yellow-green pads covered with dense clusters of short golden spines. Produces cup-shaped orange-yellow flowers that open at dawn, followed by edible, sweet pinkish-purple fruits with small glochids and tan seeds.
  • Mature Height: 5 ft
  • Mature Width: 4 ft
  • Growth Rate: Slow
  • Light Needs: Full sun
  • Key Advantages:Ornamental golden spines,Edible fruits (tunas),Drought tolerant,Unique dawn-blooming flowers
  • Landscape Uses:Desert gardens,Rock gardens,Security plantings,Container specimens
  • Special Care:Requires extremely well-drained sandy soil,Water deeply but infrequently (monthly in summer),Handle with tongs due to dense spines
  • Seasonal Interest:Flowers: Early morning blooms (spring),Fruits: Summer,Pads: Year-round golden display

Faqs

Q: Are the gold spines sharp?
A: Yes, they are true spines and are sharp. They are beautiful but not for touch-friendly gardens. Handle with thick gloves and tools.

Q: How do I keep the gold color vibrant?
A: The color is most intense in full, direct sunlight. In shade, the spines may become paler or greener. Ensure it gets at least 6-8 hours of direct sun daily.

📍 Primary Delivery Area · San Francisco Bay Area

Local delivery across the Bay Area — and beyond.

San Francisco Bay Area is our primary local delivery market. Victory Nursery also serves additional California markets and selected extended delivery areas by arrangement.

Regular local delivery: San Francisco, Peninsula, South Bay, East Bay, Marin, Tracy / Mountain House and surrounding service areas.

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1 Gallon

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Gallon describes the container size, not a guaranteed plant height. Individual plants vary. Contact our nursery for current measurements.

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