Species library › Opuntia › Opuntia wilcoxii
Succulents Well documented

Opuntia wilcoxii

A shrubby to tree-like prickly pear of the thornscrub and tropical deciduous forest of north-west Mexico, often with softly hairy pads. It needs full sun, heat and summer water, plus a dry, mild 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

Coastal plains, hills and foothills in Sinaloa–Sonora thornscrub and dry deciduous forest. It grows in the open or among shrubs on rocky and alluvial soils.

Recorded from sea level to about 2,240 m, but the median is only about 170 m. Most plants grow in the hot lowlands.

Mexico NorthwestMexico SouthwestMexico CentralMexico Northeast

🔒 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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Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app.