Opuntia ficus-indica (prickly pear cactus)

Opuntia ficus-indica , the prickly pear cactus, originally comes from Mexico but is now cultivated worldwide in tropical and Mediterranean climates as an ornamental and useful plant. It typically grows to about 3 meters tall, and the individual flattened stem sections reach 20 to 60 cm in length and 10 to 30 cm in width. Over time, it develops a woody stem. Its spines are reduced, and even the glochids fall off after a short time, so it's practically impossible to get pricked by it.

Commercially, it is primarily cultivated for its edible, sweet-and-sour fruits, which are widely used in Mexican cuisine. Cultivation is made particularly easy by the fact that the flowers are autogamous, meaning they self-pollinate and then produce fruit. The prickly pear cactus is very hardy and thrives even in poor, dry soils. It is even tolerant of light frosts down to -8°C, provided it is not wet at the same time, as wet conditions can lead to rot. It also does not tolerate late frosts in spring well, as the new shoots can freeze. In our climate, it can be kept as a houseplant or even as a garden plant in a suitable location with mineral-rich soil.



You will receive a strong plant in a 12cm pot, consisting of two established cuttings with new shoots.