Creeping Beavertail (Opuntia aurea): A Low, Yellow-Flowered Prickly Pear for Groundcover

Creeping Beavertail, or Yellow Beavertail, is a low, spreading prickly pear that forms dense mats of flattened, blue-green pads with few spines but abundant glochids. The pads often have a purple tinge in winter. The flowers are a clear, bright yellow—unusual for beavertail types. Native to the southwestern U.S., it’s a hardy, drought-tolerant groundcover for rock gardens and slopes.

Taxonomic Profile

Culture

Full sun. Well-drained soil. Very drought-tolerant. Hardy to -10°F (-23°C). Handle with care—glochids. Excellent for erosion control on slopes and native plant gardens.