Opuntia rufida aka Blind Prickly Pear Cactus

Opuntia rufida is a cactus that grows as a succulent shrub. It is native to southwest Texas and northeast Mexico. People call it blind prickly pear or cinnamon cactus. Another common name is red bunny ears. It belongs to Cactaceae, the cactus family. The name rufida refers to its reddish bristles. In the wild, it grows in deserts and dry scrub. It grows on flats, rocky slopes, and cliffs that face south. The ground has sand or gravel from limestone or volcanic rock.

The plant forms wide clumps with several branches that grow upright. LLIFLE gives a height of about 5 feet [1.5 metres]. It gives a spread of about 8 feet [2.5 metres]. Virginia Tech reports a height of 6 feet [1.8 metres]. Some plants have a clear trunk below the branches. Flat, round or oval pads make up the stems. The pads are dull grey-green or blue-green. Their surface feels soft and downy. LLIFLE gives their length as about 0.6 feet [0.18 metres]. Virginia Tech gives a maximum pad length that is a little greater. The joints do not break apart with ease.

Small round spots, called areoles, cover the pads. They hold pale down and dense groups of reddish-brown glochids. These tiny bristles come loose with ease. They turn grey with age. LLIFLE says the plant has no ordinary spines. Virginia Tech notes that some plants may have short spines. LLIFLE also notes narrow leaves with red tips. These leaves soon fall off. The pads and their rusty bristle groups remain the main features you see.

Flowers grow along the top edges of older pads. They start pale yellow, then turn gold or orange. Virginia Tech says the colours can reach orange-red. The plant blooms in spring, sometimes into early summer. LLIFLE gives March through May or June in its habitat. Flowers open in the morning and close at night. Many do not open again. Round, fleshy fruits turn red as they ripen in late summer. Their flesh is greenish, with tan or bronze seeds.

Loose glochids make the plant unsafe to handle, despite its lack of long spines. Loose bristles can get into animals' eyes and cause serious harm. Neither source shows edible uses or states whether its chemicals are toxic. LLIFLE reports that wild plants are plentiful, with no major threats at present. Its habitat records show that it grows in dry conditions. They do not show its hardiness limits in gardens.