Opuntia littoralis
Coast prickly pear
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Cactaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Opuntia littoralis (Coast prickly pear) is a native California shrub in the Cactaceae family, recognized by segment shape, round spines, and fruit color.
Coast prickly pear is a native shrub found in southern California coastal regions, Channel Islands, and southern Peninsular Ranges in coastal-sage scrub and chaparral at elevations of 8 to 400 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces inner perianth flowers ranging from yellow to dull red with orange-yellow filaments and striking yellow-green stigmas. Growing in sprawling clumps up to 9 meters in diameter with branches spreading to 1.5 meters tall, it forms distinctive segments 15 to 22 centimeters long that are gray-green and oblong-elliptic. Its areoles feature 4 to 11 spines, with the longest reaching 2 to 4 centimeters, typically yellow and straight, spreading or reflexed with a white coating. The fruit is a juicy, dark red-purple structure 3.5 to 5 centimeters long, containing small seeds 3 to 4.5 millimeters in size.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 14 sympatric species; segment shape, round spines, and fruit color
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal-sage scrub, chaparral
Elevation: 8-400 m
California counties: Orange, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Riverside, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara
Outside California: Mexico
Bloom period
Opuntia littoralis blooms Apr-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Cylindropuntia: Opuntia has flat paddle segments; Cylindropuntia has cylindrical stems with papery spine sheaths.; vs Echinocereus: Opuntia has flat pads; Echinocereus has cylindrical stems that branch into clusters.; vs Euphorbia: Opuntia has true spines from areoles on fleshy pads; Euphorbia has milky sap and no areoles.; vs Austrocylindropuntia: Opuntia has broad flat pads; Austrocylindropuntia has pencil-thin cylindrical stems.; vs Cephalocereus: Opuntia has flat jointed pads; Cephalocereus has tall unbranched columns with woolly hair.
Frequently asked questions
Is Opuntia littoralis native to California?
Yes. Opuntia littoralis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Opuntia littoralis bloom?
Opuntia littoralis blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Opuntia littoralis grow?
Opuntia littoralis occurs in Orange, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Riverside, Santa Cruz and other counties, at elevations of 8-400 m.
What plant family does Opuntia littoralis belong to?
Opuntia littoralis is in the Cactaceae family, genus Opuntia.
What habitat does Opuntia littoralis grow in?
Opuntia littoralis grows in Coastal-sage scrub, chaparral.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.