Opuntia scheeri: A Shrubby, Red-Flowered Prickly Pear

Opuntia scheeri is a shrubby, branching prickly pear with elongated, cylindrical to slightly flattened pads that are blue-green. It has numerous areoles with yellowish spines that darken with age. It produces striking, deep red to orange-red flowers, a color less common in opuntias. This Mexican native adds a unique floral hue to cactus collections and warm-climate gardens.