Beavertail cactus adds to wildflower bloom

Beavertail cactus show off colorful blooms in the late winter and early spring in the Anza Valley. Anza Valley Outlook/SkinheadSportBiker1 photo
Delicate bright magenta or fuchsia-colored blossoms have been slowly opening in dry scrublands in the Anza Valley. The Beavertail cactus, Opuntia basilaris, is presenting vibrant flowers and contributing to the spring wildflower bloom.This oval-shaped cactus grows two- to three-feet tall and four-feet wide. It has short, greenish-purple segments resembling the tail of a beaver.These prickly pear cacti develop vivid rose, pink or reddish-lavender flowers on the upper edge of their pads from February through June. Fleshy round, pink, edible fruits develop after the flowers fade.These plants are common in the Southwest and Mexico, growing at elevations of 2,000 to 3,000 feet. They prefer rocky or sandy plains, valleys, washes and canyons in deserts where they flourish in sandy or
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