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Beavertail Cactus

Opuntia basilaris

true

1 gallon; 5 gallon

Beavertail Cactus

In stock

2’x3’

Sizes:

Opuntia basilaris – Beavertail Cactus

The blue-gray, 6-inch-long pads are shaped much like a beaver’s tail and dotted with dense clusters of brown glochids (tiny barbed bristles) in an attractive dotlike pattern. New pads are jointed one on top of another, creating a distinctive, low-growing succulent clump.

From March through June, large hot pink to magenta flowers are produced in clusters on top of the pads, attracting a wide range of pollinators. These flowers are followed by dry, green pear-like fruits. Although this species lacks the long, sharp spines common to many prickly pears, the glochids are easily detached and can cause skin irritation if touched.

Most clumps reach about 2 feet tall by 3 feet across, though in favorable conditions they can spread more widely over time. Highly drought tolerant and adapted to rocky, sandy, or well-drained soils, Beavertail Cactus is a signature plant of the Mojave and lower Colorado Deserts. It thrives in full sun and is tolerant of reflected heat, making it ideal for desert landscapes, rock gardens, and wildlife plantings.

This species is also culturally important: Indigenous peoples traditionally ate the fruits and young pads (after carefully removing the glochids) and used parts of the plant medicinally.

Wildlife Value
Beavertail Cactus provides both nectar and fruit for wildlife, while its pads offer shelter for small animals and nesting sites for certain birds. The vivid flowers attract a diversity of native bees, beetles, and butterflies, and the fruits are eaten by birds and small mammals.

Host Plant: None documented for specialist Lepidoptera in our local ecoregions

Nectar Source: Native bees, generalist pollinators, and hummingbirds (Anna’s Calypte anna and Costa’s Calypte costae)

Bird Resources: Fruit/Berries; Nectar; Seeds; Shelter; Nesting Sites

Bird Species: Anna’s (C. anna), Costa’s (C. costae), Cactus Wren (C. brunneicapillus), Mourning Dove (Z. macroura), Black-throated Sparrow (A. bilineata), Greater Roadrunner (G. californianus)

Bees: Attracts numerous native solitary bees, including cactus-specialist bees (Diadasia spp.)

Plant Care

Native region:

Local Native; Mojave Native

Water needs:

Low

Exposure:

Full Sun; Filtered Sun

Mature size:

2’x3’

Growth rate:

Slow

Flower color:

Hot Pink

Flower season:

Spring

Pruning:

None required

Cold Hardiness:

0 Degrees

Nectar-producing:

Yes

Attracts pollinators:

Yes

Nighttime pollinators:

Yes

Butterflies or Moths:

Monarchs:

Larval host:

Bees:

Yes

Bats:

Yes

Birds:

Yes

Nest site:

Yes

Nest materials:

Yes

Rabbit-resistant:

Yes

Tortoises:

Yes

Growing Plants in the Desert — Important Information

The information presented here is, to the best of my knowledge, accurate and based on reliable research, personal experience in my own garden, observations from other gardens I’ve visited, and time spent studying plants in their native habitats. I always welcome your feedback and experiences to help me continue educating others!

Cacti:
In my experience, cacti are much happier in filtered shade here in the low desert of the Coachella Valley. Their colors are more vibrant and they tend to bloom more profusely, especially the non-native varieties. If you look closely at how our native barrel cactus and beavertail prickly pear grow in the wild, you’ll often find them tucked among rocks or beneath the shelter of creosote and other shrubs.

⚠️ A note of caution: Cacti and succulents are often illegally collected from the wild, which not only damages plant populations but also disturbs entire ecosystems. In some cases, wild populations of cacti have even gone extinct because of this practice. When purchasing these plants, always be sure they’ve been legally obtained. Look for nursery-grown stock or plants with a native plant certification, and keep that documentation for your records.

Light Requirements:
In our desert (Sonoran/Colorado), “full sun” doesn’t always mean what you might think. Many so-called full-sun plants benefit from and actually appreciate some late-afternoon filtered light—especially during the intense summer months.