Prickly Pear Cactus

Image by JoepvdW The genus Opuntia is one of the larger groups of cacti. Often called beaver-tailed cactus due to their large pads, Opuntia produces several types of edibles. The beautiful juicy fruits are…

Image by nnaPoka More familiar as prickly pear or beavertail prickly pear cactus, Opuntaria basilaris is a clumping, spreading cactus with flat, grayish-green, paddle-like leaves. Although this prickly pear…

Image by Stan Shebs Engelmann prickly pear, also commonly called cactus apple plants, is a wide-ranging species of prickly pear. It is native to desert regions of California, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, and…

Image by Andrey Zhuravlev If you are among the many gardeners who like cactus but don’t like spines, it may be time to consider installing Ellisiana cactus in your backyard. Its scientific name is Opuntia…

Image by skymoon13 Folks that live in hot climates often utilize native plants or plants that are drought tolerant. A great example is a cow’s tongue prickly pear (Opuntia lindheimeri or O. engelmannii var.…

Image by ItalianFoodProduction Drought tolerant plants are important parts of the home landscape. Prickly pear plant is an excellent arid garden specimen that is appropriate for USDA plant hardiness zones 9…

Image by Ullimi Opuntia are one of the largest genus of cactus. They are widespread and found in a variety of environments; however, their biggest concentration is in the desert tropical Americas. The best…

Image by WitR You may have seen them in your local produce market – those plump, pinkish-red fruits with characteristic scars from thorns. These are heat-loving prickly pear fruit. Southern foragers can…

Image by toniton Opuntia is the largest genus in the cactus family. You will recognize most by their classic “prickly pear” appearance. There are many types of Opuntia cactus that are common houseplants and…

Image by etorres69 Cactus are tough plants with many useful adaptations but even they can be laid low by tiny fungal spores. Phyllosticta pad spot is one of the fungal diseases that affects cactus in the…