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Opuntia microdasys (Lehm.) Pfeiff.

Bunny ears cactus

Native records: 4 botanical areas

Mexico Northeast, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northwest, 1 more areas

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Natural distribution

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NativeIntroducedUncertain

Distribution is shown as WGSRPD Level 3 areas. It does not imply the species occurs throughout an entire area.

Last updated:

Distribution last verified:

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Photograph of Opuntia microdasys

A shrubby cactus from the Cactaceae family, native to northern Mexico. Its flattened stem pads overlap in a pattern resembling rabbit ears, giving rise to the name 'bunny ears cactus' under which it is widely grown as an ornamental plant.

Description

A low shrubby cactus reaching 40–60 cm in height, forming spreading clumps of numerous flattened stem pads ( cladodes) that branch in an overlapping pattern. Each pad is elliptic to oblong, 10–25 cm long, bright green. The pad surface is densely covered with areoles (spine cushions), each bearing numerous fine yellow to yellowish-brown radial spines that create a tufted appearance. Younger pads bear particularly dense spine clusters, giving the impression of polka dots and inspiring the alternative common name 'polka-dot cactus'. Flowers are yellow, 5–7 cm in diameter, borne at the upper margins of pads. Fruit is spherical and covered in spines. Native to arid regions of northern Mexico; not frost-tolerant but extremely drought-resistant.

Habitat

Endemic to arid and desert regions of northern Mexico (Northeast, Northwest, Southwest, and Gulf regions), typically at 500–2000 m elevation in dry scrublands and rocky outcrops, adapted to intense sun and arid conditions.

Distribution areas

  • Algeria

    • AlgeriaIntroduced

  • Andorra

    • SpainIntroduced

  • Australia

    • New South WalesIntroduced
    • QueenslandIntroduced
    • South AustraliaIntroduced
    • VictoriaIntroduced
    • Western AustraliaIntroduced

  • France

    • FranceIntroduced

  • Gibraltar

    • SpainIntroduced

  • Greece

    • GreeceIntroduced

  • Guernsey

    • FranceIntroduced

  • Holy See

    • ItalyIntroduced

  • India

    • IndiaIntroduced

  • Italy

    • ItalyIntroduced

  • Jersey

    • FranceIntroduced

  • Mexico

    • Mexico GulfNative
    • Mexico NortheastNative
    • Mexico NorthwestNative
    • Mexico SouthwestNative

  • Monaco

    • FranceIntroduced

  • Portugal

    • PortugalIntroduced

  • Russian Federation

    • North CaucasusIntroduced

  • San Marino

    • ItalyIntroduced

  • South Africa

    • Cape ProvincesIntroduced
    • Free StateIntroduced
    • KwaZulu-NatalIntroduced
    • Northern ProvincesIntroduced

  • Spain

    • BalearesIntroduced
    • Canary Is.Introduced
    • SpainIntroduced

  • Tunisia

    • TunisiaIntroduced

  • United States of America

    • ArizonaIntroduced

Climate of the native range

The Köppen climate classes found in the areas this plant is recorded as native to. It does not mean an entire area has that climate.

  • BWh Arid, desert, hot
  • Aw Tropical, savannah
  • Am Tropical, monsoon
  • BSh Arid, steppe, hot
  • Cwb Temperate, dry winter, warm summer
  • BSk Arid, steppe, cold
  • Cwa Temperate, dry winter, hot summer

The same climate occurs in 149 areas worldwide, 132 of which have no record of this plant. See them on the map

A matching climate does not mean the plant can grow there. Range limits are also set by things other than climate — dispersal history, soils, competition. Source: Beck et al. (2023), CC BY 4.0 (observed period 1991–2020).

Other names

Bunny ears cactus、Polka-dot cactus

Family
Cactaceae
Genus
Opuntia

Other species in Opuntia

Sources

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Andorra · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Australia · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Algeria · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Spain · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    France · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Guernsey · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Gibraltar · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Greece · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    India · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Italy · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Jersey · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Monaco · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Mexico · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Portugal · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Russian Federation · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    San Marino · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Tunisia · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    United States of America · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Holy See · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    South Africa · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

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