Xerophyte

Pereskiopsis is a small, but surprising group of cactus in that it resembles more a deciduous shrub than a cactus and yet it is an Opuntiad! As a result, the areoles of this genus do include glochids. Stems are round and not segmented and branch frequently. Flat, deciduous, often persistent leaves are common.Flowers are similar to other Opuntias in shape and color - ranging from pink to red to yellow. Fruits are sometimes juicy, typically colorful and containing glochids.This genus is practically non-existent in cultivation, with few examples in botanic gardens. However, an exception to this is P. spathulata which occurs in massive numbers among growers who raise cacti from seed. The small round stems and aggressive growth of the species make it an ideal choice for grafting seedlings. It is also very easily propagated by cuttings and very tolerant of the higher humidity associated with seedling grafts.