Opuntia Species, Cow's Tongue Prickly Pear Cactus

I’ve seen quite a few Opuntia engel. ‘linguiformis’ around Salt Lake City, Utah (zone 7b) and the surrounding areas. I know of one ...Read Morespecimen in someone’s backyard in Millcreek (a neighborhood of SLC), that is easily over 6 feet tall and wide, it really looks SUPER attractive and funky. I’m pretty sure it flowers every year, and has never been damaged whatsoever. They are definitely hardy into northern Utah in zone 7 areas and should be used a lot more, as they are already one of the most commonly used landscape plants in Southern Utah forsure. I have seen many Opuntia ‘linguiformis’ that are easily 8-10 feet tall and 15 feet or more across in Washington County, and a few in Kane County. This is an absolutely eye catching plant that does really well in zone 7a/b + areas of the Southwestern United States. I highly recommend trying this gorgeous prickly pear if you live in Utah. You can grow it everywhere besides the tops of high elevation mountains, or the extreme northern corners of state (i.e. Logan, and Vernal).

Another must have species for a blue cactus lover. Vicious tiny glochids feel like fire when pressed against skin. For this reason the ot...Read Moreher common nickname "lawyer's tongue" is very appropriate!

Does this plant ever produce seed? There is some suggestion that it is a self-sterile clone. At least I have never seen seed advertised.<...Read Morebr />
A word of warning, there are some imposters out there pretending to be this species. There is for example a "cow tongue" form of Opuntia ficus-indica which is a giant by comparison with lindheimeri var. linguiformis. There is also an elongated form of microdasys (var. linguiformis) which can be mistaken for lindheimeri var. linguiformis, especially in the shrivelled state. This plant grows on dry hills in Mexico, and looks nothing like the "bunny ears" forms that we are all familiar with in cultivation. It has greatly elongated segments and rather sparse glochids. It grows much smaller than lindheimeri var. linguiformis and has pale greenish-yellow segments.

Love this plant roots very easily and grows moderately fast
We stuck some cut branches from an old big plant in the ground in earl...Read Morey may and they have rooted and grown very happily since . We broke of some pads and they all rooted and some even flowered.