Opuntia microdasys
Bunny ears, Bunny Ears
(c) Frank Sengpiel, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Frank Sengpiel · licence
Family: Cactaceae · Type: Shrub · Not Native
Opuntia microdasys (Bunny ears) is a non-native California shrub in the Cactaceae family, recognized by lack of spines and abundant glochids diagnostic.
Bunny ears is a naturalized shrub found in San Diego County's desert and chaparral regions at elevations around 490 meters. Flowering from March to June, this distinctive plant produces yellow inner perianth flowers with white filaments and a white style with green stigma. Growing up to 1 to 2 meters tall with sprawling to erect branches, the shrub features flat, light green segments 7 to 15 centimeters long that are velvety pubescent. Its most striking feature is the absence of spines, instead having abundant yellow or red-brown glochids that cover its surface. The plant produces red, fleshy fruits 2 to 3 centimeters long with numerous areoles and additional glochid clusters.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; lack of spines and abundant glochids diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Desert, chaparral
Elevation: 490 m
Outside California: Arizona, Mexico
Bloom period
Opuntia microdasys blooms Mar-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 microdasys native to California?
No. Opuntia microdasys is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Opuntia microdasys bloom?
Opuntia microdasys blooms Mar-Jun.
What plant family does Opuntia microdasys belong to?
Opuntia microdasys is in the Cactaceae family, genus Opuntia.
What habitat does Opuntia microdasys grow in?
Opuntia microdasys grows in Desert, chaparral.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.