Opuntia oricola
Chaparral pricklypear
(c) Millie Basden, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Millie Basden · licence
Family: Cactaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Opuntia oricola (Chaparral pricklypear) is a native California shrub in the Cactaceae family, recognized by tree form, curved spines, and distinctive fruit colors.
Chaparral pricklypear is a California native tree found in southern California coastal regions, Channel Islands, western Transverse Ranges, and western Peninsula Ranges in coastal-sage scrub and chaparral at elevations of 3 to 450 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces yellow inner perianth flowers with orange-yellow filaments and a distinctive red style with green stigma. Growing as a tree-like succulent up to 2.5 meters tall with generally ascending to spreading branches, it has distinctive green segments 16 to 25 centimeters long. Its areoles bear 5 to 13 spines, with the longest spines reaching 2 to 2.5 centimeters, curved, rigid, and translucent yellow. The fruit is a juicy, spherical purple-red orb 3.7 to 6 centimeters long with white-yellow interior and red seed-pulp.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 14 sympatric species; tree form, curved spines, and distinctive fruit colors
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal-sage scrub, chaparral
Elevation: 3-450 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Riverside
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Opuntia oricola 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 oricola native to California?
Yes. Opuntia oricola is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Opuntia oricola bloom?
Opuntia oricola blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Opuntia oricola grow?
Opuntia oricola occurs in Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Riverside, at elevations of 3-450 m.
What plant family does Opuntia oricola belong to?
Opuntia oricola is in the Cactaceae family, genus Opuntia.
What habitat does Opuntia oricola grow in?
Opuntia oricola 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 2026-10-08
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.