Opuntia lasiacantha

A shrubby to tree-like prickly pear of the central Mexican highlands, common in dry scrub and grassland around 1900 to 2300 m. It wants full sun, very free drainage, summer water and a dry, cool winter, and handles light frost.

At home, aim for

Day Cool-growingTargets in Plantistry

Night A clear drop at nightTargets 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

Widespread in xerophytic scrub, grassland, rocky slopes and disturbed ground across the central Mexican plateau, often on volcanic soils. It grows in the open among shrubs and other cacti.

Recorded from about 130 to 3230 m, median about 2030 m; most records come from the high plateau around Mexico City, Querétaro, Hidalgo and Guanajuato.

Mexico CentralMexico GulfMexico NortheastMexico SoutheastMexico Southwest

🔒 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

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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 2.0 licence, unmodified.