Opuntia microdasys var. albispina - Bunny ears cactus

Opuntia microdasys var. albispina, sometimes nicknamed the "White Bunny Ears Cactus", is a small succulent plant composed of adorable little prickly pear pads dotted with white glochidia. Compared to the species, 'albispina' is less vigorous and less frost-resistant. The plant rarely flowers in cultivation but does so more frequently when planted in the ground in Mediterranean climates. It is easy to grow in pots with minimal care.

Opuntia microdasys var. albispina belongs to the Cactaceae family. This prickly pear is native to the semi-desert regions of Mexico. Its scientific name, Opuntia microdasys, comes from the Greek "mikros" (small) and "dasys" (pilous), referring to the glochidia covering its segments. The albispina variety is distinguished by its white glochidia, unlike the species which bears yellow glochidia. In its natural habitat, Opuntia microdasys grows on sandy and rocky soils, often alongside other xerophytic species. Like all prickly pears, its growth consists of a stocky trunk, which becomes woody with age, branching into flattened, fleshy shoots composed of segments called articles, cladodes, or prickly pear pads. This variety forms a low, dense clump reaching 40 to 60 cm in height, with a spread of up to 1.50 m when planted in the ground. In pots, it remains more compact. Its ovate, flattened segments (cladodes) measure between 7.5 and 15 cm long and are covered with tiny tufts of white glochidia measuring 2 to 3 mm. These glochidia are very fine and can easily stick to the skin upon contact. Flowering occurs in summer, with pale yellow flowers with green pistils, 3 to 5 cm in diameter, appearing at the tips of the "pads" or cladodes. These flowers give way to red, ovoid fruits, theoretically edible though not particularly flavoursome.

Prickly pears are emblematic of the desolate, arid expanses of North America. These pad-bearing cacti naturally find their place in dry gardens in the south, particularly in large rockeries among stones and other cacti and succulent plants. This microdasys var. albispina variety can withstand light, short-lived frosts (around -5°C) in dry soil. It is therefore best grown in pots outside coastal areas. It fits well in contemporary or exotic settings, perfect for displaying on balconies during the warmer months. For example, it could be placed alongside Adenium obesum, the Desert Rose, and the Jade Plant, Crassula ovata.