Englemann’s Prickly Pear, Opuntia engelmannii, is a common prickly pear species in Arizona, especially in the Green Valley area sound of Tucson where large stands of them cover rocky slopes.
This variety of Prickly Pear bears yellow flowers in the late spring, followed by deep red to purplish fruits. Birds and mammals love the these fruits, and will scarf up every single one.
Use Englemann’s Prickly Pear in desert landscaping where low maintenance and water use is a must. Prickly Pear are extremely drought tolerant and require no supplemental irrigation unless newly planted or if they appear drought stressed. A thirsty prickly pear will exhibit puckering on the pads, and may drop pads if so drought stressed they are started to die off. With a good deep soaking, you will see a significant recovery. Do not water regularly, however, as this is a sure death for all cactus.
Reference: Mountain States Wholesale Nursery and Gregg Starr Nursery Plant Info Sheet, 1999.
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