Opuntia bentonii

A coastal prickly pear of the Gulf of Mexico and the southeastern United States, often treated as part of the Opuntia stricta complex. It grows in full sun on sandy shores and shell mounds and is tolerant of heat, salt spray and humidity. Give it maximum light, a gritty mix and a drier, cooler winter.

At home, aim for

Day IntermediateTargets in Plantistry

Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry

Humidity Dry airBand in Plantistry

Light Full sunDLI and PPFD in Plantistry

Expects a seasonal restGrows in the ground

Where it grows wild

Open coastal dunes, shell middens, beach scrub and sandy clearings, usually in full sun on very well-drained sand.

Nearly all sites are within a few metres of sea level; one inland record in Tamaulipas sits near 740 m.

AlabamaFloridaGeorgiaSouth CarolinaMexico GulfMexico NortheastMexico Southeast

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates

✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it

✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light

✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it

✓ Substrate and airflow

✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

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More Opuntia

Opuntia ficus-indica Opuntia engelmannii Opuntia galapageia Opuntia polyacantha Opuntia basilaris Opuntia humifusa Opuntia stricta Opuntia fragilis Opuntia macrocentra Opuntia macrorhiza Opuntia sulphurea Opuntia aciculata All 171 →

Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, used under its CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, unmodified.