Opuntia phaeacantha, commonly known as tulip prickly pear, desert prickly pear, brown-spined prickly pear, or Mojave prickly pear, is an evergreen perennial growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in). It has adapted to a variety of habitats and is one of the most widely distributed prickly pear in the southwestern USA, lower Great Plains, and northern Mexico. Tulip prickly pear is a low-growing, spreading cactus with long flat green pads bearing wool and spines. The spines are brown, reddish-brown, or gray, and often over 3 cm in length. Flowers are variable in color; they may be bright yellow usually with a red center, peach, pink or reddish up to 3 inches wide, opening in April and May. The edible fruits are red or purple with green flesh. The fruit can be eaten raw, cooked or dried. Fruits can be made into a jelly or baked with sugar or cinnamon. The seed s can be dried, parched and ground into a meal, then added to flour and used in making cakes. This species has a very wide range, and up to ten or more varieties have been described, making exact identification confusing. Hardiness zone : 8-11