Large Variegated Prickly Pear Cactus
*height measurements from the ground up
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Description
AKA the Paddle Cactus or nopales in Spanish, the Prickly Pear Cactus is native to the dry, rocky areas of the Americas. This succulent shrub has round, flat leaves—plus it is an edible cactus! (Watch out for spines!)
Mr. Prickly thrives in low to moderate humidity, dry soil, and anywhere in the range of indirect bright light to direct sun. He’ll grow up to 8 or even 10 feet tall indoors. And although he doesn’t like hugs, his name is a bit of a misnomer, as he’s actually quite friendly!
The fruit of the Prickly Pear Cactus is often called a cactus pear, a prickly pear, prickly pear fruit, or—sharp left turn—tuna. The big flat leaves are called paddles or nopales.
Lighting
Prickly Pear is a bit of a diva and wants to hog the spotlight. Cacti need lots of light in general, as they come from the desert, and variegated versions require even more. Indirect bright light is the bare minimum.
Watering
Think of the ground in a desert. You probably imagine cracking dirt, right? That’s the goal. Water once every month for a Prickly Pear this size. Better yet, water only when half of the soil is very very dry.
Basically, Mr. Prickly tolerates a lot of drought. And he can’t stand too much water (nobody likes walking around with wet feet). Err on the dry side.
Soil
Most house plants need good drainage, but for a cactus, it’s absolutely essential. If Prickly Pear sits around in wet soil, its roots will rot, and he’ll blame you for getting his dirt all muddy. Try sandy or gravely soil.
Fruits
Prickly Pear flavor
The Prickly Pear Cactus (also called the tuna cactus) has delicious, red-purple, totally edible fruits (also called tunas). The Prickly Pear taste is similar to watermelon mixed with strawberry, but tart or bright. Some people even taste a hint of bubblegum.
How to pick a prickly pear fruit
Those spines are no joke, so wear protective clothing, including gloves and even eyewear. (You like your eyes, right?) Use tongs to gently remove the fruit from the cactus—ONLY if it’s easy. If it resists, it’s not ripe yet.
After you pick the fruits, put them in a paper bag and shake it really hard. Most of the spines will come off. Then rinse them really thoroughly. Warning: There will still be micro-spines left, so read the next section on cleaning the fruit.
How to clean Prickly Pear Cactus fruit
If you soak the Prickly Pear fruit in simmering water for 20 minutes, the little leftover micro-spines should soften. Other people just burn the spines off (sounds dangerous!). Or, just use thick, serious gloves while peeling the skin off completely.
To peel, first slice off each end. Next, cut a shallow line from one end to the other. Using your knife, lift up one corner of the skin. Then, using your gloved fingers, peel the skin off the fruit in one piece. Throw it away quick, that thing is dangerous!
How to eat Prickly Pear Cactus fruit
Safely remove the spines, rinse the Prickly Pear, and then peel it. Next, slice it into pieces, and take a bite! The seeds are too hard to chew, so you can spit them out, but they’re also safe to swallow.
Other options: Use a juicer to juice the fruit whole, seeds and all. Or mash the pulp and use a strainer to get the seeds out.
Prickly Pear Cactus recipes
Prickly Pear juice is delicious. Or try sprinkling lemon juice, salt, and a little Tajin on the fruit. Or turn it into jelly, jam, or a pie. Better yet, make a Prickly Pear margarita (see the syrup recipe below).
Prickly Pear Cactus syrup recipe
Measure your Prickly Pear juice (strained) and put it in a pot. Add an equal amount of sugar. Turn on medium heat and stir until it boils, then turn it down to low and simmer for 20 minutes.
By then, the sugar will be fully dissolved, and the syrup will be a bit thicker than water. Store in the refrigerator.
CRUCIAL last step: Use in place of simple syrup when you make a margarita.
Can you eat Prickly Pear seeds?
You can eat Prickly Pear seeds, it’s just not much fun. They’re way too hard to chew. But it’s safe to swallow them. Most people just spit them out. If you use a blender or juicer, the seeds aren’t dangerous.
Factoids
How fast does a Prickly Pear Cactus grow?
Prickly Pear is one of the fastest-growing cactus plants. If you take good care of it, it could grow 4-6 inches a year. (Yes, that’s fast—for a cactus!) Each stem grows about one new pad each year.
What’s the difference between a regular Prickly Pear and an Eastern Prickly Pear?
Eastern Prickly Pear grows lower to the ground and spreads out more, creating a hazardous groundcover (not the best place to take your morning walk!). Classic Prickly Pear grows taller, taking on a more tree-like cactus form.
Standard Prickly is still hazardous, but at least you’re less likely to step on it!
Does the Prickly Pear Cactus have any medicinal uses or health benefits?
Scientists are testing whether pp fruit can help control blood sugar levels in diabetic patients—and the results are looking good. It might even help cure hangovers, which is nice since you had a Prickly Pear margarita last night.
What’s the Prickly Pear Cactus’s lifespan?
Great news, you’re looking at a seriously long-term friendship. The Prickly Pear Cactus lives 20 years. It needs proper care, but that just means lots of sun and not a lot of water—pretty easy stuff. He’s a good friend.
Buy a variegated Prickly Pear Cactus
There’s a variegated Prickly Pear Cactus for sale right here! Now you know everything there is to know about the variegated Prickly Pear Cactus, order this plant by 2pm EST for next day arrival. We at Dahing Plants offer the best quality plants at a reasonable price, and since we're local to NYC/NJ, you don’t need to send your plant through shipping boxes. Instead, we deliver with our very own van and driver for a guaranteed safe arrival!
For any other questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at Info@DahingPlants.com or call (646)-649-5088!
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