It surprises many people to learn that cacti are native to Michigan. We have two native cactus species. On is the endangered Fragile Prickly-pear (Opuntia fragilis) which is known from two sites. Prickly-pear (Opuntia cespitosa) occurs in southwestern Michigan and Monroe County in the extreme southeast corner. Our plants were called Opuntia humifusa, but that name is now used for an east coast species.
Prickly-pear grows in sandy, well drained soil. It requires a sunny site to thrive. Although it is mostly spineless, Prickly-pear has fine sharp barbed hairs that are rather irritating to touch. Its showy yellow flowers last only a day.
I found a colony on a sunny hillside in Roscommon County. This station is farther inland than other reported locations. It might be a planted colony or simply an extension of its known native range. We will never know. The colony is expanding by seed into the dry ditch at the base of the hill. Seedlings and a few flowering plants grow among the grass and Bracken Fern.
Copyright 2021 by Donald Drife
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There are extensive settings of prickly pear in the Allegan State Game Area and a few spots along the Kal-Haven trail.
There is a large grouping of MI Prickly Pear along the White Pine Trail in Belding, and low and behold last year I stumbled upon a small grouping in our subdivision in Sparta, MI. I was able to rescue most of them before the bulldozers came to dig a basement (along with Round Headed Bush Clover and white asters.) yes, I’m crazy but wow the cacti put on a magnificent show this past June. I hope to return some to the new homeowners but wonder if they will treasure them as much as I do…
Awesome ! You probably care more about them than most folks!
I had a friend in high school who had prickly pear cacti on their property in Croton Township in Newaygo County. North of the Muskegon River, nearby the Newaygo Prairie Sanctuary.
We have about a hundred of them growing on a half acre corner lot of our property in Van Buren County. They have multiplied over the last few years.
Now (late June to early July) is blooming time for them.
I believe this is what is growing in Rustford Cemetery in Mecosta County.
There are non-native cactus planted in some cemeteries. Tony Reznicek on the Michigan Flora website describes one of the non-native species that he found in a cemetery in Monroe County.
There is a nice batch growing in Caro, Michigan on State of Michigan property not assessable to the general public where I work. The yellow flowers are just gorgeous right now.
We have some growing at Ox-Bow School of Art in Saugatuck
There are also prickly pear communities in Muskegon and Ottawa Counties.
Prickly pear in white pigeon, can’t believe it is still there after total grind up of ground
My wife and I found cacti in Kent County near 52nd and Ivanrest (Grandville, MI). At first we wondered how a small group of cacti came to be in our woods (sandy hill area with lots of sun exposure). Then we discovered that there are cacti native to Michigan. The owners of the property are very close to building on the land. Feel bad that much of the wetland areas and woods will be lost to their development plans. Pretty sure these cacti are in the danger zone.
I found a large group in the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore in Empire MI
We have a bunch in our yard in Manistee county. Right on a side hill on the bestie river.
Lots of yellow blooms today.
There’s a decently sized patch at the saugatuck dunes
We own and live on a large parcel of land in the newaygo/ croton area and we have llots of prickly pear. Over the years my kids have had many prickly pear thorns pulled out of their feet and bike tires