Did You Know Minnesota Is Home To Two Cactus Plants?

When you think about cactus plants, you probably don't think about Minnesota. I know when I think about a cactus, I think of a desert or states like Arizona, New Mexico, or West Texas. Believe it or not, Minnesota is home to not one but two cactus plants, and you'll find one of them here in Central Minnesota, while the other is more often spotted in Southern Minnesota.

Cacti In Minnesota? Yup

I was today years old when I found out that Minnesota is home to not one but two different cactus plants. I have lived here, pretty much, my whole life and didn't know this.

So what kind of cactus plants are here, and where can we find them?

What Kind Of Cacti Live In Minnesota?

Prickly pear cacti are the plants you'll find here in the #BoldNorth. You'll find two varieties growing in Minnesota, and they will actually survive our winters. Here are the varieties:

• Plains Prickly Pear
• Brittle Prickly Pear

Where Can You Find These Cacti?

Central Minnesota has one of these varieties growing. The Brittle Prickly Pear can actually be spotted on granite outcrops in and around the area, including in places like Quarry Park and Nature Preserve.

You can also find it in other places where exposed granite is, like Blue Mounds State Park.

According to Restoring The Landscape, the Brittle Prickly Pear is a small, thumb-sized pad growing in thin, rocky soils.

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The Plains Prickly Pear can be found in Southwestern Minnesota and parts of the Minnesota River Valley. You may also be able to find it in Quarry Park and Nature Preserve, but the Plains Prickly Pear is pretty rare.

According to the Minnesota DNR,  the Plains Prickly Pear is bigger than the Brittle Prickly Pear; "its pads are wider and taller, green, pear-shaped pancakes. The mats may spread for several feet across the ground."

Did you know that Minnesota was home to cactus plants?

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