A winter hardy, evergreen, clump-forming, Missouri native cactus. The round-to-oval, flattened, succulent green pads are not leaves but swollen water-storing stem segments. Pads have a few needle-like spines and are covered with numerous tufts of bristles. Showy, bright yellow and orange 2-3 in. flowers with a reddish eye bloom in June and July. Pulpy red fruits ripen in late summer and are edible, most often being used to make candies and jams. Pods used as food.
Prickly pear in winter. Photo by E. Goss