Not all opuntias are hardy, some cannot tolerate frost at all, others can only survive short and relatively mild frost periods without damage. The Opuntia engelmannii, on the other hand, is very frost-tolerant and can spend even the coldest winter in your garden.
Is the Opuntia engelmannii hardy?
The Opuntia engelmannii is a frost-hardy cactus that can tolerate temperatures down to -20°C. With proper care, such as fertilization from April to July and protection from rain in winter, this plant offers edible fruits and shrub-like growth up to 3.5 meters high.
Not even temperatures of 20 °C bother this cactus from the southern USA. This makes it probably one of the most frost-tolerant cacti you can find. There are definitely different versions of this robust cactus. Some only reach a height of around one meter, others grow up to four meters.
The Opuntia engelmannii, which grows more like a shrub, rarely has a clearly visible trunk. This opuntia is one of the useful plants because the juicy fruits are usually edible. The red juice of the fruit can also be used for coloring or as ink.
How do I care for the Opuntia engelmannii?
While the prickly pear cactus needs winter quarters because it can only tolerate temperatures just below freezing for short periods of time, the Opuntia engelmannii gets along very well without such special treatment. However, it reacts somewhat sensitively to moisture in winter. Therefore, give the plant protection from the rain.
Like all Opuntias, Opuntia engelmannii is quite easy to care for. In order to survive the winter in one piece, the plant should be well nourished. Fertilize your Opuntia engelmannii regularly from April to July. To do this, use a complete mineral fertilizer (€18.00 on Amazon) or add liquid fertilizer to the irrigation water.
If your cactus is in the garden or on the balcony, water it when it is dry, otherwise natural rainfall should be sufficient. In winter, water the Opuntia engelmannii only on frost-free days and only in very small quantities.
The most important things in brief:
- at home in the southern USA and Mexico
- usually at an altitude of 150 to 1800 m
- edible fruits
- shrub-like growth
- up to about 3.5 m high
- rarely has a trunk
- frost hardy down to -20 °C
- reacts sensitively to wetness in winter
Tip
If you are looking for a frost-hardy cactus that also bears edible fruit, then the Opuntia engelmannii should be your first choice.
