Opuntia robusta
Nopal tapon
(c) Oscar Alejandro Morales Juárez, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Cactaceae · Type: Shrub · Not Native
Opuntia robusta (Nopal tapon) is a non-native California shrub in the Cactaceae family, recognized by massive silvery-blue segments diagnostic.
Nopal tapon is a naturalized shrub found in southern California coastal areas in disturbed sites and abandoned gardens at elevations of 5 to 600 meters. Flowering in April, this plant produces yellow flowers with white filaments and a white style in large blossoms up to 5 centimeters wide. Growing as a mound-shaped shrub less than 2 meters tall, it develops massive silvery-blue segments 30 to 44 centimeters long with spreading branches. Its areoles feature 1 to 2 chalky white spines up to 2.5 centimeters long with yellow cores, giving the plant a distinctive architectural appearance. The fruit is a juicy, deep purple-maroon structure approximately 7 to 8 centimeters long with 20 to 30 areoles.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; massive silvery-blue segments diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon in California. Disturbed sites, abandoned gardens
Elevation: 5-600 m
Outside California: Mexico
Bloom period
Opuntia robusta blooms Apr.
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 robusta native to California?
No. Opuntia robusta is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Opuntia robusta bloom?
Opuntia robusta blooms Apr.
What plant family does Opuntia robusta belong to?
Opuntia robusta is in the Cactaceae family, genus Opuntia.
What habitat does Opuntia robusta grow in?
Opuntia robusta grows in Uncommon in California. Disturbed sites, abandoned gardens.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.