Opuntia monacantha

Opuntia monacantha, commonly known as the Drooping Prickly Pear, is a shrubby or tree-like cactus with a short trunk and glossy green stem segments with irregular margins and tapered towards the base. It can grow up to 20 feet (6 meters) tall, with a trunk that reaches a diameter of 8 inches (20 cm). The stem segments are oblong, obovate, or lance-shaped and can be up to 12 inches (30 cm) long and 5 inches (12.5 cm) wide.

The spines, mostly 1 or 2 per areole, are unequal, spreading in various directions, and mainly confined to the upper half of stem segments. They are white to brown with yellow or red markings, rarely all reddish, and up to 2 inches (5 cm) long.

It prefers full sun exposure and well-drained soil to avoid waterlogging. During the growing season, water the cactus moderately, but in winter, it should be kept dry to prevent root rot. This cactus is drought-tolerant once established and can withstand short frost periods, though frost protection is recommended for safe cultivation.