Prickly Pear cacti are abundant on the South Rim of Grand Canyon in late spring. Photo courtesy of Claire Baldwin, 2017. Prickly pear cacti (Opuntia) grow in abundance throughout the American southwest and encompass over 150 species. They are found in many of the life zones encompassed by Grand Canyon, both on the South Rim and in the Inner Canyon. Usually a yellow bloom, the flowers in spring can also sometimes be orange or red. (Photo courtesy Claire Baldwin)