From his experiments at his own proving grounds Burbank estimated that he would get 100 tons of production per acre. Well, needless to say, opuntia never made it as a dry-land forage crop for the thirsty parts of the world. As it turns out, thornlessness in cacti is in part genetically controlled, but also environmentally controlled. When plants are stressed enough, they sometimes will produce thorns so Burbank s dream of million acre of cactus ranches never was to be. As an ornamental the prickly pear is an interesting specimen plant.
Hybrids are hardy statewide in Arkansas if they are given full sun and good drainage.
In summer, plants produces teacup-sized yellow blossoms that are followed by a fleshy, edible fruit. While placing a prickly pear in the landscape so it looks appropriate is always a challenge in our well-watered state, it can make an interesting conversation piece as the story of Burbank and his big dream are told. The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status, and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The mention of any commercial product in this web site does not imply its endorsement by the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service over other products not named, nor does the omission imply that they are not satisfactory.