Prickly pear growing cactus of the genus Opuntia also known as Cactus pear or Barbary fig, Prickly pear perennial thorny plant also used as ornamental plant can grow in desert, subtropical, tropic, mediterranean or temperate climate and growing in hardiness zone 7+.
Stem color green with oval shape when mature become brown and change their shape more oval as stem, the stem called cladode some refers them as leaves.
Flower color orange, yellow or pink flower.
Prickly pear fruits
Fruit color can be: orange, yellow, red, purple or green, the peel covers with spines
Prickly pear for sale – Seeds or Plants to Buy
Requirements for Prickly pear growing and care:
More than -10C
What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seed / Vegetative Reproduction
Is it necessary to use vegetative reproduction?
Yes
Difficulties or problems when growing:
Spine
Recommended planting season?
Spring / Summer / Autumn
Pests and diseases:
Snails, slugs
Pruning season:
All years
How to prune:
More for design the ease to pick the fruits
Size of the plant?
2-6 m, 6-18 feet
Growth speed in optimal condition:
Medium growing / Slow growing
Water requirement:
Small amount of water
Light conditions in optimal condition for growing:
Full Sun
Is it possible to grow as houseplant?
No
Growing is also possible in a planter /flowerpot / containers:
Yes
Blooming information
Bloom season:
Spring
General information about the flower
Orange, yellow or pink flower, in the shape of the fruit
Pollination is done by:
Bees, butterfly, humming bird
Edible fruits
Fruit harvest season:
Summer
Fruits pests or diseases:
Snails, slugs, birds
What can be done with big quantities of Prickly pear fruits?
Eat raw, juice, jams
Work requirements on the fruit:
Pick the fruit is hard (the spines can be loose when try to pick them) recommend to pick the fruits with sunglass
How long does it take to bear fruit?
2-5 years
Scientific name:
Opuntia ficus-indica
