Opuntia polyacantha
Starvation prickly-pear, Starvation Prickly-Pear
(c) Andrey Zharkikh, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cactaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Opuntia polyacantha (Starvation prickly-pear) is a native California shrub in the Cactaceae family, recognized by compact size, spine coloration, and dry fruits.
Starvation prickly-pear is a native shrub found in arid regions of western North America, growing in desert and dry habitats at moderate elevations. Flowering from late spring to summer, this cactus produces spectacular yellow to pink-magenta flowers with white filaments and delicate green stigmas. Growing less than 0.5 meters tall with decumbent or ascending branches, the plant features distinctive elliptic to obovate green segments covered in white and yellow-brown spines. Its segments are smooth and glabrous, with spines arranged in complex patterns - shorter white reflexed spines surrounding longer, flatter white spines with yellow-brown bases. The fruit develops green with a reddish tint, eventually drying to a tan color and containing small seeds 5 to 6.5 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 12 sympatric species; compact size, spine coloration, and dry fruits
Habitat and range
California counties: Inyo, San Bernardino, Mono, Riverside
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 polyacantha native to California?
Yes. Opuntia polyacantha is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Opuntia polyacantha grow?
Opuntia polyacantha occurs in Inyo, San Bernardino, Mono, Riverside.
What plant family does Opuntia polyacantha belong to?
Opuntia polyacantha is in the Cactaceae family, genus Opuntia.
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.