Burbank Spineless Cactus
Latin Name: Opuntia ficus-indica 'Burbank Spineless'
Price range: $16.95 through $19.95
- Hardiness Zone: Zone 9, Zone 10, Zone 11
- Pot Size: Cutting, 1 Gallon
Opuntia ficus-indica ‘Burbank Spineless’ is a shrubby cactus built from thick, blue-green pads that branch and stack into a broad, tree-like mass. Each pad is a flattened stem rather than a leaf, and it both stores water and does the work of photosynthesis. Luther Burbank selected this form in the early 1900s for pads that carry few or no long spines. Large orange-yellow flowers open along the upper rims of the pads in spring, followed by deep reddish-purple fruits. The waxy blue cast on the pad surface reflects sunlight and slows water loss, a clue to how this cactus handles long dry seasons.
Plant Details
Quick Information
- Latin Name: Opuntia ficus-indica 'Burbank Spineless'
- Plant Family: Cactaceae
- Common Names: Burbank Spineless Prickly Pear, Spineless Cactus, Nopal, Indian Fig
- Origin / Native Range: Cultivar of garden origin, raised in Santa Rosa, California; the parent species was domesticated in central Mexico
- Mature Height × Width: 6–10 ft × 6–10 ft
- Exposure Requirements: Full Sun
- Irrigation Requirements: Very Low
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 9–11
- Cold Hardiness: 18°F–20°F (when dry)
- Bloom Time: Spring to Early Summer
- Bloom Color: Yellow to Orange
General Information
A young plant often begins as a single pad set upright in the soil. New pads bud from areoles, the small cushion-like points scattered across each pad surface. Areoles are the growth points of a cactus, and spines, flowers, and new pads all emerge from them. In warm weather, a healthy plant may add several pads in a season, each one growing at its own angle. Fresh pads carry tiny cone-shaped leaves, but these drop within a few weeks. As the years pass, the oldest pads near the ground thicken, turn brown, and become woody. The result is a low trunk supporting a wide, branching mass of green paddles well above head height on older specimens.
Like other cacti, this plant uses CAM photosynthesis. It opens the pores in its skin at night to take in carbon dioxide, then keeps them shut during the heat of the day. That reversed schedule saves a great deal of water. Roots stay shallow and spread wide, which lets the plant soak up light rain before it evaporates. Bees are the main visitors to the wide, open flowers, which offer easy access to abundant pollen. The fruits that follow ripen slowly through late summer and fall, and birds and mammals feed on them. In the landscape, the plant handles reflected heat from walls and paving, and it does best in gravelly, sandy, or other fast-draining soils. Wet winter soil is the usual cause of failure, and pads may scar or rot after a hard freeze.
Luther Burbank introduced more than sixty spineless cactus selections between 1907 and 1925, hoping to give dryland ranchers a cattle feed that needed no water. Livestock proved less enthusiastic than he expected, and the forage business faded. The plants stayed, valued instead for food and ornament. Young pads are cooked as nopales, and the sweet fruits, called tunas, are eaten fresh or made into jam and syrup. Gardeners should know that "spineless" does not mean harmless. The areoles still hold glochids, which are tiny barbed bristles that detach at a touch and lodge painfully in skin. Handle pads with thick gloves or a folded newspaper. Also, check local rules before planting, since Opuntia ficus-indica has naturalized and is regulated as a weed in parts of Australia, South Africa, and the Mediterranean.
General Planting & Cultivation Information
Even drought-tolerant plants require regular watering until they are well established, good drainage is essential. If planting in containers, avoid pots without drainage holes.
Irrigate by watering deeply and then allowing the top several inches of soil to dry between waterings. This encourages the plant to send roots deep into the earth in search of moisture, helping it to become established, prevent root rot, build drought tolerance, and resilience to wind, heat, and cold.
The length of time between waterings will vary depending on your growing conditions and environment. Use a moisture meter for precise irrigation.
When planting, set the plant at the same depth as it was in its current container. For trees, ensure the top of the root flare is at soil level.
Young plants are vulnerable to harsh conditions, so consider growing them in larger containers until mature.
When planting in the ground, research the optimal planting season for your climate zone and protect young plants from frost.
To support establishment, consider creating a microclimate with nurse plants, shade, or wind protection. This can reduce stress, conserve soil moisture, and increase long-term success.
Protect the small, immature plants from rabbits and deer.
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