Consolea corallicola
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Semaphore Pricklypear, Semaphore Cactus
Cactaceae
Also known as Opuntia corallicola
Plant Specifics
| Form: | Tree | |
| Size: | 4-10 ft | |
| Life Span: | Long-lived perennial | |
| Flower Color: | Red | |
| Fruit Color: | Red | |
| Phenology: | Evergreen | |
| Noted for: | Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage, Thorns, Hurricane wind resistance |
Landscaping
| Recommended Uses: | Specimen plant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Considerations: | Distinctly thorny. Will need protection from invasive cactus moth. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Propagation: | Plant segments (pads) of existing plant. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Availability: | FNPS plant sales, Specialty providers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Light: | Full Sun, Part Shade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
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| (Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Short very dry periods) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: | Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Short very dry periods | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Water Flooding Tolerance: | Tolerant of occasional/brief inundation such as can occur in storm surges. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance: | Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil or other substrate: | Lime rock | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil pH: | Calcareous (high pH) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ecology
| Wildlife: |
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| Insects: | Consolea corallicola has extremely low genetic diversity as the only two natural populations are clones (both functionally male). Currently propagated by planting pads. | |
| Native Habitats: | Tropical rockland hammock, coastal rock barren, freshwater tidal swamp and inland margins of mangrove swamp. Photographs are of specimens planted at Fairchild Botanical Gardens. |
Distribution and Planting Zones
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
10B 11
USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures
Comments
| General Comments: | This is an ENDANGERED plant (listed both Florida and US). Please acquire this endemic plant only from a reputable source. |