Synonyms:

Opuntia repens
Opuntia decumbens var. longispina
Opuntia maxonii
Opuntia decumbens var. scheinvariana

Habitat:

Opuntia decumbens is native to Mexico and Costa Rica, where it grows on sandy and rocky outcrops in semi-arid climates. It is though widespread all over the world.

Description:

Opuntia decumbens is a succulent shrub, abundantly branching and with a decumbent habit. Like any Opuntia, its stem is made of numerous flattened, oval elements called “Cladode”. Cladodes grow on each other forming a stem-like structure. They often fall on the ground, detaching from the whole stem, and easily put roots. In Opuntia decumbens, the whole stem can reach 1 meter in height and 10 centimeters in width. Though they’re very different from cacti, they belong to the family of Cactaceae and thus they share the structures kknown as areola and spines. Areoles are the typical buds of cacti, from which the spines are grown. In Opuntia decumbens, areola are far apart from wach other and have 3 spines each, which are stiff, yellowish, turning whitish as they age. LikE all Opuntia, it is equipped with solitary flowers, very flashy and showy. In Opuntia decumbens, in particular, they are borne on a scaled, funnel-shaped elongated calyx, often slightly curved upwards and sprouting from the top of the cladode. In Opuntia decumbens, the colour of the petals is creamy white, and the consistence is velvety, soft. The central part if the flower is made by a crowd of stamens (the male part of the flower) and a single, green elongated stigma (the female part). After withering, they are replaced by ovoidal, fleshy fruits, green at the beginning and turning eventually orange when they ripen. Pay attention while handling this plant: in addition to the actual thorns, all Opuntias have the so-called “glochid”. Anyone who has eaten a prickly pear at least once in his or her life surely knows them! They are like microscopic thorns that readily adhere to skin, causing itching and discomfort. Wear gloves while handling them!

Cultivation:

Opuntia decumbens is a tough plant and not difficult to grow. Here below are our tips:

Place it in a sunny spot, fully exposed to sunlight.
Its minimum tolerated temperature is 3ºC. We advise to shelter it or moving it indoors if you live in zones with rigid Winters. Also, Winter rainfalls can damage it, causing stem and root rot.
In Spring and Summer, water it regularly but only when the soil dries completely up. In Winter, suspend completely any irrigation.
Choose a well-draining substrate, made of a standard compost with some perlite, pumice, or sand added, or either a specific substrate for succulents.
Opuntia decumbens is a tough plant, used to thrive in poor, rocky soils, thus fertilization can be limited to once a year, during the growth season (Spring and Summer), using specific products for cacti and succulents, rich in Phosphorus and Potassium and poor in Nitrogen.
Repotting can be necessary up to once a year, as Opuntia decumbens is a fast-growing species. It is also suited for cultivation in rocky gardens of warm climate areas but pay attention: it will expand in all directions and occupy all its available space. Its falling cladodes, in fact, might detach and fall on the ground, easily putting new roots. Also, it’s a prostrate cacti, and its falling stems might put roots when they touch the soil.

Propagation:

All Opuntias can be easily propagated through seeds and cuttings. Cladodes can be detached and used as cuttings. They have to be buried for 2 centimeters in depth into the soil and put in an upright position.

Curiosity:

Opuntia was named after “Opunte”, the capital of Locride region in ancient Greece. The name “decumbens”, instead, comes from Latin and means “prostrate”, referring to its stems, that take on a creeping habit when they grow.

Official Web Site:
www.giromagi.com

Italian Blog:
www.giromagicactus.com

Tips:
Read our advice