Brazilian Prickly Pear is a distinctive, tree-like cactus that develops a woody trunk and flattened, leaf-like branches (cladodes) resembling those of a Pereskia. It can reach 20–30 feet tall in its native South American habitat. The cladodes are bright green with few spines. Yellow flowers appear on the edges of the cladodes, followed by yellow fruits. It’s a rare example of a cactus with a truly arborescent habit and persistent, photosynthetic flattened stems.
| Family: | Cactaceae (kak-TAY-see-ee) |
| Genus: | Brasiliopuntia (bra-sil-ee-oh-PUN-tee-uh) |
| Species: | brasiliensis (bra-sill-ee-EN-sis) |
| Synonym: | Opuntia brasiliensis |
| Synonym: | Opuntia bahiensis |
| Synonym: | Brasiliopuntia bahiensis |
| Synonym: | Opuntia schulzii |
| Synonym: | Brasiliopuntia schulzii |
Full sun to light shade. Well-drained soil. Regular water in summer; drier in winter. Frost tender; protect below 30°F (-1°C). Rare in cultivation; a botanical curiosity for collectors of tree cacti.
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