Opuntia Species, Bunny Ears, Polka Dot Cactus, Angel's Wings, Cegador

Have had Bunny Ears many years. Wish I had my camera operating to take a recent pic showing one of the original pots. here is the pot in...Read More 08/04/2004. Now it is so huge I'm afraid the scenic bowl will split. It has supplied many family and friends with specimens as well as filled a large part of small garden. Here in NE Tx zone 8 a a lot of it froze this past winter but a lot of it survived. I keep several pots going and always some babies for friends. neighbors. I like it as it is an almost fail- proof plant : )

Very easy to start, very easy to grow, quite ornamental. Requires almost no water (even for a cactus). Many variations in color and gro...Read Morewth habit can be found.

Extreme caution with the glochids on this plant, which separate very easily and travel all around, especially if the plant moves or there's wind. If you put one of these in the ground, don't plan to do any weeding or pruning (or playing!) within a yard of it.

The best way to remove these particular spines is duct tape. Press tape down carefully going in one direction, remove it quickly going the other. Follow up with tweezers in good light.

This species/variety (O. microdasys var. microdasys) has reddish brown glochids and the areoles are set further apart than Opuntia microd...Read Moreasys v. rufida.

(Update 2/12/2011)
This plant is very vigorous and spreading grower if it's in the ground. Just today I pruned back three heaping wheel barrows loads of cuttings from one plant.

I started mine from a small cutting from a friend's plant in New Orleans. Kept it in a pot (which, by the way, had to move by wrapping i...Read Moret with bubble wrap and then newspaper to keep it from KILLING everyone who touched it). Pot broke several years ago and plant naturalized into ground and is still growing strong. Doesn't bloom much, but doesn't get full sun. Plan to replant it and maybe some clones under some windows that have a history of getting broken into. That'll teach 'em.