Opuntia oricola is a large treelike cactus often exceeding 2 meters in height.

The branches are made up of rounded flat segments up to 25 centimeters long.

It is covered in clusters of curved, yellowish spines usually around 2 centimeters long.

The spherical fruit is purplish red on the outside, whitish and juicy inside, and up to 6 centimeters long.

It was common along the coasts and adjacent inland areas of California, but development has reduced its populations.