Silver Dollar Prickly Pear (Opuntia robusta): A Massive, Blue-Green Padded Cactus for Large Spaces

Silver Dollar Prickly Pear, or Dinner Plate Cactus, is a large, tree-like prickly pear that develops a woody trunk and huge, round, blue-green pads (up to 12–18 inches across) with few spines. It can reach 10–15 feet tall and wide. Yellow flowers appear in spring, followed by large, purple-red fruits. Native to central Mexico, it’s a bold, architectural cactus for spacious, frost-free landscapes.

Taxonomic Profile

Culture

Full sun. Well-drained soil. Drought-tolerant. Hardy to 20°F (-7°C). Needs room to spread. Handles pruning. Fruits are edible. A statement plant for large xeriscapes.