Opuntia humifusa — Eastern Prickly Pear | Native Tennessee Cactus, Live Plant
Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia humifusa) is the only cactus native to Tennessee, grown from wild-type Middle Tennessee stock — right in the Central Basin, the heart of this species' native Tennessee range. It's a genuine surprise for a lot of gardeners: a true cold-hardy cactus that thrives outdoors year-round in the Southeast, not just the desert Southwest.
This species is a larval host plant for the Arge Tiger Moth and Julia's Dicymolomia moth, and its large yellow summer blooms draw in native bees, beetles, and butterflies with masses of showy pollen. Come late summer, the reddish fruits (tunas) feed birds and box turtles — a small glade-adapted plant that punches well above its size for wildlife support.
Low-growing and spreading, Eastern Prickly Pear forms flat, paddle-shaped pads that hug the ground and slowly colonize dry, sunny, poor soil where almost nothing else wants to grow — rock gardens, slopes, glades, and hot, neglected corners of the yard.
Growing conditions:
- Light: Full sun (won't bloom in shade)
- Water: Dry; fully drought-tolerant once established
- Soil: Sandy, rocky, or well-drained poor soil — avoid sites where water stands after rain
- Cold hardiness: One of the most cold-hardy cactus species; overwinters outdoors
Safety note: Pads are covered in small, barbed glochids that easily embed in skin — handle with thick gloves or tongs when planting or repotting, and keep away from curious pets and small children.
Size: Shipped in a 4" container, rooted pad ready to transplant.
Shipping: Orders ship out UPS every Monday.