Prickly Pear
by CMG Kathleen S.
Prickly Pear, Opuntia engelmannii from pixabay.com
Prickly Pear Cactus became the official state plant of Texas in 1995. Because of its drought and heat tolerance it is a very appropriate choice. It likes dry, sandy soil, is deer resistant and has been part of Texas flora for centuries. Prickly Pear cacti are native to Central and South Texas, Mexico and parts of New Mexico up to an elevation of 4600 feet. Prickly Pear cactus produce cup shaped blooms in yellow, orange and pink. Some cactus produce fruit that is edible. This fruit is called “tuna” and its use as a food source dates back to the Native Americans. Today, the fruit is used in jellies and jams.
Prickly Pear Cactus from pixabay.com
The pads, called nopales, of the prickly pear can range from light blue to green to gray to purple. These pads are modified stems and are capable of storing water. Prickly pear will need to be watered every 2 – 4 weeks during times of drought. Rainfall usually is enough to sustain established plants in most areas. Newly propagated pads should only be watered after the first month then every 2 to 4 weeks the first year. If the cactus is being grown in a pot, it might need to be watered more frequently so check the soil for complete dryness before watering.
Prickly Pear Cactus from pixabay.com
There are more than 200 species of prickly pear found in the United States. Some of these are best suited in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10, but there are some that can withstand cold conditions down to Zone 4 and warmer weather in zone 11. This plant is an herbaceous perennial which becomes dormant in the winter months. The pads will “deflate” and look rather shriveled in the winter, but the pads will return to normal come spring.
The genus is Opuntia. The genus found in Comal County is Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri. More recognized as the Opuntia Lindheimeri (Texas Prickly Pear, Lindheimer’s Prickly Pear, Lindheimer Prickly Pear). Named in honor of Ferdinand Lindheimer and his associate George Engelmann. Lindheimer was a resident in the mid 1800’s of New Braunfels and is revered as the “Father of Texas Botany”. There are over 300 plants identified by Lindheimer and more than 30 are named in his honor. His home, and gardens, located at 491 Comal Ave in New Braunfels are open to the public. More here.
The Lindheimer prickly pear is usually around 3 1/2 feet tall but can reach a height of 5 feet with a rounded trunk. It is also common for the plant to sprawl on the ground. Flowers appear starting in April and are yellow. Fruits are red to purple. The pads have spines and tiny thorns called glochids which can be up to 4 ½ inches long. Heavy gloves are recommended when pruning or harvesting fruit.
Prickly pear can be used for erosion control but the USDA has stated that it can be a “noxious weed” because of the plants’ ability to spread and form thickets from dislodged pads that self- root. Other uses are as a main stay in xeriscaping landscapes as well as natural barriers or fences.
Spineless Prickly Pear, Ellisiana, Opuntia cacanapa from backyardnature.net
Researcher like Luther Burbank have successfully produced varieties of spineless prickly pear. One variety is “Ellisiana” (Opuntia cacanapa). It has large yellow blooms that attract hummingbirds that set bright red fruits when ripe. It’s hardy in zones 6 to 10. However, you will still need to wear gloves because the spines are gone but the glochids remain.
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin showcases Lady Bird Johnson’s vision and efforts to retain the plants native to Texas. She is quoted as saying these plants “give us a sense of where we are in this great land of ours”. In addition to an extensive plant database, you will also find on their website Taste of Place with Prickly Pear recipes. Find them here.
Some of the prickly pear cactus are:
- Beavertail Prickly Pear (Opuntia basilaris) is from the Chihuahuan desert and will reach a height of 3 feet. Its name comes from the appearance of its pads. Flowers are cream to a pale yellow, the spines are brown and the fruit is red. Photo here.
- Bearded Prickly Pear (Opuntia strigil)) is from the Mojave Desert and will reach a height of 1.5 feet. The flower is rosy pink and the fruit is brown. This one is difficult to propagate because of its desire for the hottest and driest of climates. Photo here.
- Blind Prickly Pear (Opuntia rufida) is from the Chihuahuan Desert. It has a trunk and will grow to a height of 6 feet. The flowers will start as bright yellow but eventually turn a faded orange. Fruits are long and red. Photo here.
There is an excellent video on YouTube about propagating cactus. It is called “In the Garden with Nick Federoff: Growing Prickly Pear Cactus”. The video was produced by KCAL news. For more information about growing and propagating cactus from the Aggie-Horticulture site click here.
Sources: tpwmagazine.com, centraltexasgardening.org, gardeningknowhow.com, naturecollective.org, reference.com, housegrail.com, nps.gov, aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu and necps.org