Consolea corallicola
Photo by Roger Hammer. Photograph belongs to the photographer who allows use for FNPS purposes only. Please contact the photographer for all other uses.
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
10B 11
2002-2022, Copyright Florida Native Plant Society
Semaphore Pricklypear, Semaphore Cactus
Cactaceae
Also known as Opuntia corallicola
Plant Specifics
| Size: | 4-10 ft | |
| Life Span: | Long-lived perennial | |
| Flower Color: | Red | |
| Fruit Color: | Red | |
| Phenology: | Evergreen | |
| 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. |
Landscaping
| Recommended Uses: | Specimen plant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Light: | Full Sun, Part Shade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
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| 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 Tolerance: | Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil/Substrate: | Lime rock | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wildlife
Consolea corallicola has extremely low genetic diversity as the only two natural populations are clones (both functionally male). Currently propagated by planting pads.