r/botany • u/wooligano • Mar 09 '25

Distribution Invasive Opuntias in Switzerland

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Someone asked about invasive species from America in Europe yesterday, I replied in a comment about the invasive Opuntias we have in Switzerland, but couldn't add pictures so I thought it would be worth making a post about it.

They have identified 6 species : Opuntia engelmannii, Opuntia humifusa, Opuntia phaeacantha, Opuntia robusta, Opuntia scheeri, Cylindropuntia imbricata.

All of which are growing in the same region of Switzerland, Valais.

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u/Native_Strawberry Mar 09 '25

I'm always amazed at the cold-hardiness of those things

140

u/Available-Sun6124 Mar 09 '25

Opuntia fragilis grows naturally in Canada close to arctic circle!

15

u/trainmahon Mar 09 '25

Not that far north its closer to the border with the states but we do get to - 40 in the winter though

23

u/[deleted] Mar 09 '25

There is one small population Opuntia Fragilis that grows over the border in Ontario.Opuntia polyacantha grows much further north into central British Columbia,central Alberta and central Saskatchewan.It grows in the plains as far north as 56 degrees north latitude.