Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Beavertail Prickly Pear
Beavertail Prickly Pear is a low desert native cactus with flat, blue-gray pads and bright magenta flowers in spring. It stays about 1 to 2 feet tall and spreads 4 to 6 feet wide, so it fits rock gardens, small beds and low spots along a wall. It takes full sun and reflected heat, and needs little or no water once rooted. It grows wild in the Valley.
Best for: rock gardens, low cover in desert beds, small spaces and hot strips with reflected heat. It is a low native cactus that puts on a big spring flower show with very little water.
It stays about 1 to 2 feet tall, so it sits low between rocks and larger cacti. The magenta flowers in March and April are the main show.
Each plant spreads 4 to 6 feet wide over time. Planted about 3 to 4 feet apart, a few plants fill a bed as a low cover.
It takes full sun and the reflected heat off walls, drives and paving. Its small size suits narrow beds and accents in small and medium yards.
Soil that stays wet rots the roots. It has few long spines, but its pads are dotted with glochids, so keep it back from walkways, pool edges and play areas.
- Closer planting3 ft apart
- Wider planting4 ft apart
Wait about a week after planting before the first water, then water every other week while nights stay above 60°F. Once it is rooted it uses very little water, just a deep soak every 3 to 4 weeks in a long dry summer and none in winter.
It is very cold hardy, rated to about 0 to 10°F. Keep the soil dry through winter, and cover it with frost cloth that reaches the ground if a hard freeze is coming.
Cut off whole pads where they join, using long-handled loppers or tongs. Prune only to keep it in bounds or to thin crowded pads.
Beavertail rarely gets cochineal scale. If white cottony tufts appear, hose them off with a strong jet.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does beavertail prickly pear get?
It stays low, about 1 to 2 feet tall, and spreads 4 to 6 feet wide. It grows at a slow to moderate pace.
When does beavertail bloom?
It blooms in spring, mostly March and April. The flowers are bright magenta pink and about 3 inches across.
Is beavertail native to Arizona?
Yes. It grows wild in the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts, including Maricopa County, and reaches into California, Nevada and northwest Mexico.
Does beavertail have spines?
It has few or no long spines. The dots on the pads are glochids, tiny barbed hairs that stick in skin and are hard to see. Handle it with thick gloves and tongs.
How do I get beavertail glochids out of my skin?
Press tape on the spot and peel it off. A thin layer of white glue, peeled off once dry, also lifts most of them.
How often should I water beavertail?
Water young plants about once a month in the hot months, and skip it after a good rain. Once rooted, it needs little or no water. Soil that stays wet rots it.
How cold can beavertail take?
It is rated cold hardy from about 10°F down to 0°F. If a hard freeze is coming, cover it with frost cloth that reaches the ground and keep the soil dry.
Does beavertail take reflected heat?
Yes. It does best in full sun and takes the reflected heat off walls and paving.
Does beavertail get cochineal scale?
Beavertail rarely gets it, because it resists the white, cottony cochineal scale common on many prickly pears. If you see a few spots, spray them off with a strong jet from the hose.
How far apart should I plant beavertail?
Plant them about 3 to 4 feet apart, center to center, for a group or low cover. Each plant spreads 4 to 6 feet over time. The Spacing tab on this page counts plants for your bed.
Can I start beavertail from a pad?
Yes. Cut a pad at the joint and let the cut end dry in the shade for a week or two. Plant it cut end down and wait about a week before watering.
Do rabbits eat beavertail?
It is rated rabbit resistant, so rabbits usually leave it alone. To keep its spread in check, cut off whole pads where they join.
Beavertail Prickly Pear for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Beavertail Prickly Pear is a low native cactus that grows wild across the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts, including around Phoenix. It is known for its blue-gray pads and magenta spring flowers. Below is what to expect from it in an Arizona yard, from size, sun and water to cold, flowers, handling and spacing.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
How big does beavertail prickly pear get?
Plan for a low clump about 1 to 2 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide. It grows at a slow to moderate pace. Cutting off whole pads keeps the spread in check.
When does beavertail cactus bloom in Phoenix?
Bright magenta pink flowers open in spring, mostly March and April. Each flower is about 3 inches across. Bees and other pollinators visit them.
How often do you water beavertail prickly pear?
Water young plants about once a month through the hot months, and skip it after a good rain. Once it is rooted, it lives on little or no water.
How far apart do you plant beavertail prickly pear?
For a group or low cover, plant about 3 to 4 feet apart, center to center. Each plant reaches 4 to 6 feet across. The Spacing tab on this page counts plants for your bed.
What is the difference between beavertail and purple prickly pear?
Beavertail stays low, about 1 to 2 feet, with magenta flowers. Purple prickly pear grows 4 to 6 feet tall, with yellow flowers and pads that turn purple in winter. Both are native to Arizona.
Is beavertail prickly pear cold hardy?
Yes. It is rated cold hardy from about 10°F down to 0°F. It grows wild across much of Arizona, including Maricopa County.
Can beavertail prickly pear take reflected heat?
Yes. It thrives in full sun and takes reflected heat off walls, drives and paving. At 1 to 2 feet tall, it fits narrow beds along a hot wall or drive.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.