The Beavertail Prickly Pear cactus (opuntia basilaris) is very common in the desert south west, and would go most of the year most of the year without a second glance. However this species of cactus exemplifies the best of what the desert has to offer in one symbol.
The Beavertail Prickly Pear grows in clumps, low to the ground and grows horizontally rather than vertically like the iconic saguaro. The dull greenish grey leaves grows feature a complete lack of spines and a shaped which gives the plant it’s name. The pads of this cactus lake the spines traditionally associated with cactus, but rather the pads are covered with minuscule, gray-blue bristles which feature barbed tips which easily puncture human skin.
Each spring the cactus puts on a display of wild flowers which is amazing to behold in the arid desert environments. Typically starting the March, each cactus pad my put out several shoots which Colosseum in a burst of colors, most commonly a vibrant pink but also known to be yellow, white or rose colored.
The cactus typically grows in rocky , sandy plains, valleys, washes & canyons all over Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah and Northern Mexico.