A Considerable Hindrance

It’s not easy to love prickly pear cactus. They are spiny, and if you do get poked by one, it stings for a long time.

Montana's prickly pear cactus (Opuntia polyacantha) is a hardy and self-protective plant native to the state's arid and semi-arid regions. Known for its distinctive paddle-shaped pads adorned with sharp spines, this cactus thrives in the harsh conditions of the Montana landscape, enduring extreme temperatures and minimal water availability. Its hardiness is remarkable, as it can survive both the scorching heat of summer and the frigid cold of winter.

In documenting their trek through the eastern region of the state, the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery recorded their encounters with the prickly pear cactus in their journals. Here are two notable quotes:

Meriwether Lewis (July 10, 1806):

"The prickly pear is so abundant that we could scarcely walk without having our feet pierced with the thorns. They are extremely troublesome, particularly to our barefooted Indians."

Meriwether Lewis (June 25, 1806):

"The prickly pear is also a considerable hindrance in our march through this prairie. They are so numerous that it requires one-half the time to pull out their thorns as it does to make the march."

As it so happens, the prairie around my house is loaded with prickly pear. I have even allowed a few to grow in my “yard,” which is pretty much the same prairie with a few exotics thrown in. This time of year, the prickly pear blooms, and it is much easier to love them, given their vivid salmon to yellow colors and flowers which are often the size of a baby’s fist.

Prickly Pear Cactus in Bloom

Prickly Pear Cactus in Bloom

—Mitchell Hegman