Opuntia microdasys is an evergreen perennial that forms a dense shrub up to 24 inches (60 cm) tall (occasionally more), composed of green, pad-like stems, up to 6 inches (15 cm) long and up to 5 inches (12.5 cm) broad. It has no spines, but instead has numerous yellow glochids (micro-spines) up to 0.12 inch (3 mm) long at each aureole.
The flowers are followed by round to egg-shaped, up to 2 inches (5 cm) long, red to purplish, spineless but glochid-dotted fruits.
