Opuntia monacantha

A tall, branching prickly pear of the coastal sands and rocky shores of southern and eastern Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, with glossy green pads and usually one spine per areole. It is easy and fast in full sun, takes more water and humidity than desert Opuntia, and is widely naturalised in warm countries.

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

Grows in open coastal restinga scrub, on dunes, sandy plains and granite outcrops close to the sea, usually in full sun among low shrubs.

Mostly near sea level (median of recorded elevations 59 m); a few inland records reach about 1,400 m.

Brazil NortheastBrazil SoutheastBrazil SouthParaguayUruguay

🔒 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 3.0 licence, unmodified.