Opuntia / Prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) — succulent / cactus.
Opuntia / Prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) – succulent / cactus. Opuntia (prickly pear) has spiny paddle-shaped stems and edible fruit; extremely drought-resistant.
Benefits
- Very drought-resistant
- Minimal maintenance
Seasonal care
- Spring: Start of the growing season: apply a suitable fertiliser and provide full sun.
- Summer: Water sparingly – it is drought-tolerant. Tolerates heat and drought well.
- Autumn: Autumn is a good time for planting; gradually reduce watering.
- Winter: Tolerates down to -5°C; in cold areas protect the base with mulch.
Specifications
- Botanical name: Opuntia ficus-indica
- Botanical family: Cactaceae
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Foliage: Evergreen
- Exposure: Sun
- Placement: Outdoors / container
- Growth rate: Slow
- Minimum temperature: -5 °C
- Drought resistance: High
- Mature height: 50-200 cm
- Mature width: 10-40 cm
- Flowering period: Summer
- Flower colour: Mixed
- Fragrance: No
- Soil: Special cactus mix, very free-draining
- pH: 6,0-7,5
- Watering: Low
- Fertilising: Rarely, special cactus feed
- Pruning: No
- Mulching: Decorative gravel
- Product code: 4038354
- EAN code: 6420384038354
Warnings
- Water sparingly – it rots with excess water
- Most are frost-sensitive
Frequently asked questions
Does it survive winter outdoors?
Partly – it tolerates down to -5°C; in very cold areas protect the base or shelter it.
What exposure and watering does it prefer?
Sun; low watering. Opuntia (prickly pear) has spiny paddle-shaped stems and edible fruit; extremely drought-resistant.
When does it flower?
Flowering period: summer.
