Opuntia crest, commonly known as ‘Common prickly pear’, grows from 6 to 36 inches in height and enters dormancy in winters. The leaves are reduced to tiny globose-shaped structures that rapidly shed from the developing cladodes. It has its origin in Argentina and belongs to the Cactaceae family.

Growth Rate

Opuntia crest has a slow growth rate.

Flowering

This popular cactus produces white flowers with a hint of pink in the summer, and sometimes multiple-colored blooms on a single plant.

Watering and Feeding

Water these cacti every 1 or 2 weeks during the spring and summer. Reduce watering to 1 or 2 months in the fall and winter, and avoid if the temperature falls below freezing.

Soil

Common prickly pears require an air gap between their roots and the soil to grow. So, a well-draining soil that is 50% sand is essential.

Hardiness

This variety of Opuntia is cold-hardy. It has a frost tolerance of 0° C (32° F) and belongs to the hardiness zone of 9 to 11.

Light

These cacti need to receive full sun exposure for 6-12 hours per day. If it gets cool enough in the winter for them to go dormant, they can survive indoors by a sunny window.

Propagation

Opuntia crests can be propagated easily from stem segments. Place the pad upright in your garden or on its side to plant your cacti cutting. To encourage rooting, make sure the cut portion of the pads is slightly touching the soil.

Common prickly pears are known for their bright red fruits and showy blooms. They are simple to grow and care for, even in areas where other cacti are too cold or wet. 

Some of the information in this description has been found at desert-tropicals.com, llifle.com and cactus-art.biz

Bloom Season	Summer
Botanical Name	Opuntia hybrid crested
Common Name	Ommon prickly pear.
Dormancy	Winter
Family	Cactaceae
Flower Color	White with a hint of pink
Growth Habit	Globose
Mature Size	6 inches to 36 inches
Native Area	Argentina
Resistance	0°c