Prickly pear cactus Coloring Pages

Just like a paper fan! The mysterious cactus, Prickly pear cactus!

Prickly pear cactus is a cactus shaped just like a flat, round paper fan, just as its name says. Many of these fan-like parts connect together to grow bigger and bigger. Some of them even look like bunny ears!

Where does it live?

Prickly pear cactus originally lives in dry places with lots of sunshine and little rain, like America and Mexico. It is a super strong plant that can grow happily even in tough places like deserts.

Secrets of the body of Prickly pear cactus

The flat parts of Prickly pear cactus are not leaves—they are the "stem." This stem is packed with important secrets for surviving in the desert.

• A water-storing sponge: It stores a lot of water inside its flat, fan-like stem. It is just like a big sponge! That is why it can stay alive using this water, even if it does not rain for many days.
• Sharp thorns: Prickly pear cactus has many sharp thorns growing on it. It uses them to protect itself so animals will not eat it. You need to be careful with the tiny thorns (glochids) because they sting when you touch them and are hard to pull out!
• The place for photosynthesis: Regular plants make food through photosynthesis in their leaves, but Prickly pear cactus does photosynthesis in its flat stem. It closes tiny holes (stomata) on the surface of its stem to keep water from drying up during the day. That is why it is so good at handling dry weather!

Amazing power to live!

Even if a piece of its stem breaks off and falls to the ground, Prickly pear cactus can grow new roots from it and turn into a brand-new cactus! That is why it has such amazing power to live and keep growing more and more.

Watch out for the thorns!

Sharp thorns grow on the fan-like parts, so you need to be careful when you touch them. Depending on the kind, some have fluffy, hair-like thorns, but these will also sting if you touch them, so be careful!

Pretty flowers and yummy fruit!

Prickly pear cactus blooms pretty yellow and red flowers from spring to summer. After the flowers bloom, some kinds grow sweet, delicious fruit! You can eat this fruit as juice or turn it into jam. In Mexico, people have been eating it like a vegetable for a very long time!

Many kinds of Prickly pear cactus!

There are many different kinds of Prickly pear cactus.

• Golden Bunny Ears: It has fluffy yellow thorns and looks like rabbit ears, so it is also called "Rabbit Ears."
• Roadkill Cactus: It has a funny shape that looks like it is cheering with its arms up, and it is easy to grow because it has fewer thorns.
• Bunny Ears Cactus: It is a super cute cactus with fluffy white thorns and a shape that looks like rabbit ears.

It is a plant from long ago!

Prickly pear cactus has been an important plant for the people of Mexico for a long, long time. They used it in many ways, like for food, medicine, and building material for houses. People think it came to Japan during the Edo period through Portuguese travelers.

How to Choose Colors

Let's color this Prickly pear cactus coloring page to show off the strength of a desert plant and the beauty of its colorful flowers and fruit!

• Pads (stems): The basic color for a Prickly pear cactus stem is green. Depending on the type, there are many shades of green, from bright green to deep green, and even a slightly bluish green. Pick your favorite green to color it in! If you make the sunny parts light green and the shadowy parts dark green, it will look 3D.
• Spine colors: Spines come in different colors like white, yellow, brown, or black. Color them sharply to make them look nice and pointy! You can also draw small dots to show tiny prickles (glochids).
• Flower colors: Prickly pear cactus flowers are super bright! Color them cheerfully in any color you like, such as yellow, orange, red, or pink. Pay attention to how the petals overlap and use light and dark shades to make them look even prettier.
• Fruit colors: When the fruit gets ripe, it often turns reddish-purple, orange, or dark red. It is fun to show the cool contrast between the prickly outside and the bright inside!
• Base colors: Near the bottom by the ground, mix in a little brown or gray. This makes it look like it is really growing out of the soil.

Let's Show Unique Shapes and Textures!

Use your coloring style to show the flat pads and sharp spines of the Prickly pear cactus!

• Pad roundness: It has a flat fan shape, but it is also a little thick. Add shadows with dark green along the edges and where the pads connect to show its plump, 3D shape.
• How spines grow: The spots where spines grow might be a little darker or raised up. Adding thin lines or tiny dots to show crowded spines works really well!
• Smooth surfaces: The skin of the stem can be a little smooth and shiny. Leave some bright colors or add thin white lines where the light hits to show the shine.

Imagine the Background as You Color!

A Prickly pear cactus usually grows in a desert or in a flowerpot. Imagine what kind of place it is in and color the background, too!

• Sun and sky: The desert sky is a beautiful, bright blue during the day. An orange or purple sunset sky is also lovely. You can add a blazing sun, or even draw stars in a night sky!
• Potted plants: Color the pot brown, terracotta, or any color you like! Color the soil dark brown or black to show that it is dry.

Hints for Enjoying Your Coloring Page!

You do not have to stick to real Prickly pear cactus colors! Color a dream Prickly pear cactus that shows what you imagine, like "it would be pretty with flowers this color" or "it would be cool with this pattern!"