| Common Name |
Cow's Tongue Prickly Pear Cactus |
| Latin Name |
Opuntia engelmannii var.
linguiformis |
| Family |
Cactaceae |
| Sunset zones / USDA zones |
10-13 / 8-11 |
| Type / Form |
Cactus / Medium |
| Native Habitat |
Southwest deserts and grasslands below 6,000 feet |
| Soil |
Dry, decomposed granite, sand, clay loam low in organic
content, well drained |
| Exposure |
Full sun |
| Water |
None to once per month |
| Height X Width |
Maximum 10 X 8 feet, usual 4 feet X 4 feet |
| Protective Mechanism |
Spines |
| Leaves |
Evergreen, light green |
| Flowers |
Yellow flowers in spring, purple fruits |
| Bark / Roots |
NA |
| Maintenance |
None |
| Propagation |
Seeds, cuttings |
| Pests and diseases |
None |
| Landscape uses |
Container, rock garden, barrier, low maintenance,
foliage accent, background, specimen |
| Garden Suitability |
Sonoran, Ethnobotanical |
| Ornamental Value |
Yellow flowers in spring, purple fruits |
| Nature Value |
Flowers used by bees, fruits eaten by birds and mammals |
| Native American Uses |
Fruits and pads eaten |
| Links |
|
| Images, and
data |
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/67791/index.html |
| Images, and
data |
http://www.desertmuseumdigitallibrary.org/public/detail.php?id=ASDM08062&sp=Opuntia%20engelmannii%20linguiformis |
| Images, and
data |
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=OPENL2 |
| Images and data |
http://www.delange.org/CowsTongue/CowsTongue.htm |
| Images and data |
http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Cactaceae/Opuntia_linguiformis.html |
| Images |
http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/openl2.htm |
| Distribution map |
http://www.efloras.org/object_page.aspx?object_id=13218&flora_id=1 |
| Distribution map |
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=OPENL2 |
| Nursery |
http://www.cactusstore.com/category_3/Prickly-Pear-Cacti.htm |
| Nursery |
Oak Hills Nursery, 13874 Ranchero Road, Oak Hills, 92345,
760-947-6261 |
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