One of the things I enjoy about being a REALTOR® is that I'm constantly discovering interesting things while showing homes and exploring neighborhoods throughout the Twin Cities.
But this one stopped me in my tracks.
While showing a home in Blaine, Minnesota, I looked at the landscaping and thought:
Wait...is that a cactus?
It certainly was—a prickly pear cactus growing outdoors in Minnesota.
Yes, Cacti Really Can Grow in Minnesota
When most of us picture cactus, we think of Arizona or another hot, dry part of the Southwest—not a Minnesota yard buried under snow in January.
But some cactus species are remarkably cold hardy.
In fact, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says Minnesota is home to three native cactus species, including brittle prickly pear and plains prickly pear.
Prickly pears belong to the genus Opuntia. Their distinctive flat, fleshy sections—often called pads—store water and help the plants tolerate very dry conditions. Minnesota's prickly pears are naturally associated with dry, rocky or prairie environments.
How Can a Cactus Survive a Minnesota Winter?
Here's the part I found fascinating.
Some cold-hardy prickly pears change dramatically as winter approaches. Their pads can lose water and become shriveled and almost dead-looking during the cold months. When warmer weather returns, the pads rehydrate and become plump again. Illinois Extension describes this winter shriveling as a way cold-hardy prickly pear conserves moisture during cold, dry winters.
So if you had one in your landscaping and saw it looking flattened and miserable in January, you might assume you'd killed your cactus.
It may simply be doing exactly what it's supposed to do.
And Some of Them Bloom
Depending on the species and growing conditions, prickly pears can produce surprisingly beautiful flowers.
Minnesota's prickly pears can produce yellow flowers, and the Minnesota DNR notes that flowering varies by species and conditions.
It's quite a contrast: a prickly cactus capable of enduring a Minnesota winter and then producing colorful flowers during our warmer months.
Watch what I found in Blaine, MN: https://youtube.com/shorts/kr43MtDwtpE?feature=share
You Never Know What You'll Find Around the Twin Cities!
Finding a cactus growing in a Blaine yard was a fun reminder that every neighborhood—and sometimes every property—has something unexpected about it.
I spend a lot of time traveling throughout Twin Cities communities while helping buyers and sellers, and those experiences give me plenty of opportunities to discover interesting homes, neighborhoods, parks, landscaping and local features along the way.
I'll be sharing more of those discoveries here.
Lisa Rieken, REALTOR®
Keller Williams Preferred Realty
📞 952-334-6555
🌐 riekenrealestate.com