Eastern Prickly Pear?

[PalmTreeDude]

So according to the USDA Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia humifusa) is native to Virginia and pretty much the whole east coat, but I never see them gorwing wild! They are reported native to my county and the counties around mine and I still never seen them growing naturally! Here is the link from the USDA Plant Database ( https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=OPHU ). Has anyone ever seen them growing naturally? They are apparently all over the east coast. 

[Turtlesteve]

In South Carolina, I've seen them behind dunes at the beach in various areas, and a couple times in the sand hills (center of the state).  Always in somewhat open areas with poor soil / almost pure sand.  I'm not 100% confident it was this species, or if they were natural occurrences.

 

Steve

Edited October 16, 2017 by Turtlesteve

[Silas_Sancona]

This Opuntia sp. can be seen in various forms almost everywhere from Florida to New Mexico, the Plains, and in various spots around the eastern states. Would come across patches of the stuff in sandy areas in some of the parks/ open spaces around Manatee County when I lived in Bradenton. Have also encountered it in Texas and Kansas. Where it occurs west of the Mississippi, identification can be harder since it's range overlaps with other sp. and Opuntia can hybridize a bit. 

Checkover SEINET'S data regarding the species. Should give a more detailed range map, and where you might be able to personally encounter nearby specimens. 

[Missi]

There's a crap ton growing in my county (Collier Co., FL). As Steve said, in dry areas with pure sand, like breaks in the shade in pine flatwoods. The gopher tortoises love them.

[PalmTreeDude]

Huh... there are a lot of aress with bad soil and openings around here but I have never seen them here before endless they are planted. I will keep a look out, thanks.

Edited October 18, 2017 by PalmTreeDude

[Mr.SamuraiSword]

seen them in the outer banks near bodie island.

[VA Jeff]

In Yorktown, VA, they are definitely present in certain areas.  I tolerated them in my yard for a few years, but my wife has probably removed them all by now.  You can't eat the tiny fruits, like you can with the Mexican varieities, because it's too hard to get the tiny spines off for such a tiny fruit.  And they really stick in your skin and itch because the spines are so thin.  My wife did like the flowers.  I think they are yellow as I recall.