2 Easy Ways to Eat Prickly Pear Cactus (with Pictures) Two Methods: Pads or Nopales Prickly Pear Community Q&A Prickly pear cactus has been a staple of the Mexican and Central American diet for thousands of years. In parts of the U.S. it has been gaining popularity as an exotic, gourmet and healthy addition to one's diet . The prickly pear plant has three different edible sections: the pad of the cactus (nopal), which can be treated like a vegetable , the petals of the flowers, which can be added to salads, and the pear (tuna), which can be treated like a fruit . They grow wild throughout the American southwest , down to South America and up to Canada . The ones you may find at a local store or farmers market will surely originate from a commercial nopal farm. Ingredients Pads or Nopales 1 Buy or forage some prickly pear pads. See Warnings. There's a reason it's called the prickly pear cactus. Find pads that are bright green and firm. Small, young pads harvested in early spring are thought to be the most succulent, delicate in flavor, and have the fewest spines.

The thicker a pad, the older it is. Older pads tend to be stringy and their sap will be thicker, which some people find unpleasant. Leave those for other species who use them as survival food during lean foraging seasons. The tender pads are sometimes sold as "baby nopales". If you're harvesting them yourself, wear extremely heavy gloves or use tongs. Snap the pads off the plant or cut at the stem. Cutting at the stem reduces stress on the pad, and allows the cactus to recover more quickly than snapping or tearing the pad away. This helps keep your cactus plant healthy for future harvests. 2 Remove the spines from the pad by using a vegetable peeler or a paring knife . Don't take off the gloves until the pads are completely rinsed and the peeled remnants are cleared. The pads not only have large spines, but there are also tiny, invisible and far more irritating spines called glochids that are extremely difficult to remove from the skin. The spines and glochids can also be removed from the prickly pear pads by burning them off with a small torch or by placing the pad on a gas burner and turning it with tongs. See Warnings.

3 If this question (or a similar one) is answered twice in this section, please click here to let us know. Tips The flavor of prickly pears has been compared to kiwi , but not as acidic. If you get the fine spines stuck in your skin, don't bother with tweezers. Instead put a thin layer of Elmer's glue over the spines. Let the glue dry until there is a solid "skin" on your hand, then peel it off. The spines will peel off painlessly with the glue. (This also works for removing splinters.) The glochids actually are barbed and will work into your skin if you are not careful. If you don't have Elmer's glue handy, and the glochids become very annoying, duct tape or strong tack masking tape can remove them. The cooked pads have a flavor comparable to green beans . They also have a texture reminiscent of okra, which some people find unpleasant, and others find enticing. This quality is exaggerated if the nopales are overcooked. If grilling on an open fire the spines will also burn off. This can also be used to feed livestock on a short term basis.

Prickly pears are eaten not only in the United States and Mexico, but also in the Mediterranean and in European countries. In Italy, the fruit is often presented in a bowl of cold water and in Malta, it is customary to chill the fruit for a couple of hours in the refrigerator before serving. To learn more about the nutritional benefits and value of prickly pear cactus, look into the External Links below. To store nopales in the refrigerator, make sure they are fresh and unwrinkled. Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap. Nopales can be stored for up to two weeks. If you work with cacti regularly, you may well find the glochids are only a minor annoyance, and that the itchiness is only intermittently noticeable. However, the glochids of some of the Opuntia are larger than the spines of some of the other species. The glochids of the Opuntia Engelmanii v. Texensis in particular can be very, very painful, as can the spines.

Gloves are still recommended, however, if you need to handle sensitive areas of the body (as when urinating) or if it is likely you will be caressing someone who is not also inured to the spines. Purchase your first pads. Don't harvest them yourself. Then you will know what to look for. In some cases the glochids can be removed most easily by rubbing against a piece of heavy cloth (such as an old serape) that's used for no other purpose. And this article indicates that Native Americans rubbed "beavertail" pads in the sand to remove the glochids, but rather than "sand" it was more likely the hard-packed sandy dirt of the American Southwest. Harvest late in the afternoon as the sap is at its lowest or first thing in the morning . You can usually buy pads 20 centimeter (7.9 in) long (classified as a small pad) or a pear 10 centimeter (3.9 in) long (classified as medium). Anything longer proves difficult to prepare. Warnings If harvesting your own plants, always wear hand protection. Some species of prickly pear cactus don't have spines, but all have glochids.

Be very careful when removing the spines from the plant, or buy pads or pears that are already de-spined. Unless you wear extremely heavy gloves, it's best to handle the pads with tongs or some other "remote" device. Beware pear cactus can poke thorns through you and hurt really bad. Updated: Views: 1,403,283 "I have been having trouble sleeping and I was really bored, so this article really helped me with that itch. Actually, I love this website, but sometimes you just need to learn how to eat a prickly pear cactus."..." more - Julia Pelech "The article was useful in confirming many things I've read about the prickly pear. It also taught me some things I was still uncertain about, such as the value of the pads."..." more - Michael Farmer "I found some prickly pear fruit at the 99 cents only store, and didn't know exactly how to prepare them for eating. Your article about this was really helpful."..." more - Cindi Go "I knew nothing about preparing the fruit for eating, and learned everything I need to know.

Now to find some pears in the SW the next time I'm in the area."..." more - Sara Karis "Helped me very much, and now I have a lot of info about this great plant that Jehovah God has given us so we stay in good health in our lives. Thank you."..." more - Rafael Angel "The tip about the glochids, and buying the first prickly pear, and how to remove the spikes, and the flavor compares all helped."..." more - Anonymous Just bought some, and wanted to know what the nutritional part of the pear fruit was. I just found out. - Valerie Cortez Phew -- learned about glochids and how to deal with this annoyance from this article, thanks! - Xylem Galadhon I didn't know we could eat cactus! - Ali Sari Motlagh Removing spines and glochids. - Anonymous Growing Prickly Pear - Prickly Pear Plants In The Home Garden Image by ManicBlu By Bonnie L. Grant 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 to 11.

Growing prickly pear in colder climates can be done in containers where they are moved indoors when cold temperatures threaten. The question, “How to grow prickly pear?” is best answered with a little background on the plant. Prickly Pear Plant Characteristics Prickly pears are vigorously growing cactus with detachable spines which means they may not be suitable for every garden. The plants are perfect for the hot as a griddle areas of your garden. The plant is comprised of wide, flat, thick pads that are covered in spines and segmented stems. There are 181 species of prickly pear plant that range from low growing plants just over a foot high to 18 foot high giants. Types of Prickly Pear The wide range of cactus available for the home garden, provide a plant for every warm season situation. The diminutive Beavertail prickly pear (Opuntia basilaris) has bluish gray pads that are slightly triangular in shape and carried on a 20 inch tall frame that can spread 20 to 30 inches wide. The Indian fig prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) is a monster of a cactus that grows in a treelike habit.

It bears an edible fruit and large orange or yellow flowers. The types of prickly pear have numerous descriptive names, among them bunny ears (Opuntia microdasys) and cow’s tongue (Opuntia engelmannii). Planting Prickly Pear The first thing to remember when planting prickly pear is to wear thick gloves and full length sleeves. It will be helpful to have a second pair of hands to keep the cactus stable when lowering it into the hole. Plant the prickly pear at the same level it was growing in the nursery pot. Some exterior support may be necessary for larger specimens while it establishes. Planting prickly pear cactus requires careful handling to avoid damaging the plant and you. How to Grow a Prickly Pear Prickly pears are easy to grow. They need well-drained soil and can survive on rainwater after established. During rooting, the plant should be irrigated every two or three weeks. When you choose a cactus, consider the size it will eventually become and plant it away from pathways and areas where people will brush against it. Growing prickly pear successfully relies on a warm, dry climate. You can easily grow your own prickly pear. Propagation from pads is quick and quite simple.

The pads are actually specialized flattened stems. Six month old pads are removed from the plant and set out in a dry area to form a callus on the cut end for several weeks. A half and half mix of soil and sand is good for planting prickly pear pads. The pad will form roots in a few months. During this time, it needs support and should not be watered. The pad can be watered after it will stand on its own. Prickly Pear Cactus - DesertUSA Prickly Pear Cactus Genus Opuntia Most prickly pear cactus have yellow, red or purple flowers, even among the same species. They vary in height from less than a foot (Plains, Hedgehog, Tuberous) to 6 or 7 feet (Texas, Santa Rita, Pancake). Pads can vary in width, length, shape and color. The Beavertail, Santa Rita and Blind Pear are regarded as spineless, but all have glochids. Prickly Pear Cactus flowers Prickly pear cactus information Prickly pear cactus represent about a dozen species of the Opuntia genus (Family Cactaceae) in the North American deserts.

All have flat, fleshy pads that look like large leaves. The pads are actually modified branches or stems that serve several functions -- water storage, photosynthesis and flower production. Chollas are also members of the Opuntia genus but have cylindrical, jointed stems rather than flat pads. Like other cactus, most prickly pears and chollas have large spines -- actually modified leaves -- growing from tubercles -- small, wart-like projections -- on their stems. But members of the Opuntia genus are unique because of their clusters of fine, tiny, barbed spines called glochids. Found just above the cluster of regular spines, glochids are yellow or red in color and detach easily from the pads. Glochids are often difficult to see and more difficult to remove, once lodged in the skin. Tiny, barbed spines called glochids. The fruits of most prickly pears are edible and sold in stores under the name "tuna." Prickly pear branches (the pads) are also cooked and eaten as a vegetable.

They, too, are sold in stores under the name "Nopalito." Because of the glochids, great care is required when harvesting or preparing prickly pear cactus. Both fruits and pads of the prickly pear cactus are rich in slowly absorbed soluble fibers that may help keep blood sugar stable. Prickly Pear Nectar is made with the juice and pulp of the fruits and is available from our online store. Types of Prickly Pear Cactus | Home Guides | SF Gate Types of Prickly Pear Cactus Types of Prickly Pear Cactus Prickly pear fruits are a good source of vitamin C. The name "prickly pear" refers to the cactus species Opuntia and also to the fruits these cacti produce. They produce paddle- or cylinder-like leaves, and the fruit of many species are edible and used in making jellies, juices and candies. The pads of some species are a staple ingredient in many Mexican dishes. The plants vary in size from small groundcovers to tree-sized specimens, all bearing bright yellow to red flowers. Most are more tolerant of cool-weather conditions than other cacti genera. Indian Fig Prickly Pear The Indian fig (O.

ficus-indica) is perhaps the best known and most utilized species of the prickly pears. It’s an important commercial crop for arid regions where it is grown for its large sweet fruits, sometimes called "tunas." These fruits come in yellow, red and pink, and are eaten fresh, used to make refreshing drinks, or used in jellies and candies. The Southwest cattle industry also uses it for forage, and the pads are an important part of Mexican cuisine. Although the U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones fall between 7 and 10, the Indian fig has been found as far north as Canada. Spineless Prickly Pears The spineless prickly pears (O. ellisiana, O. stricta or O. robusta) are primarily used as ornamental plants when outside their normal growing environment. Although they are spineless, they still have fine stiff hairs (called glochids), which can irritate the skin. They have bright yellow flowers that sometimes have a red flush. The pads can be green or have a bluish waxy coating, and are used in containers or for xeriscape gardening. Although O. ellisiana and O.

stricta are more shrub-like at 2 to 5 feet tall, the Opunita robusta can grow into a small tree of 15 feet tall. They bear sweet fruits and have edible pads similar to the Indian Fig variety. Purple Prickly Pears Several prickly pears have a colorful purple blush on their pads. The "Santa Rita" prickly pear (O. violacea) has pretty purple pads that deepen in color during times of stress or drought. The variety called "Baby Rita" (O. basilaris) has purple pads, grows to only 8 inches and has pink flowers. Some blind prickly pears (O. rufida) have a reddish purple tinge. All are hardy enough to withstand frosts, but thrive in the more arid parts of U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 7 to 10. Miniature Prickly Pears Many prickly pears grow in low clumps or form miniature pads. The golden beavertail prickly pears (O. aurea) grow pads that reach 2 inches across and have clear yellow flowers. The bunny ears, or polka dot, prickly pears (O.

microdasys “Albata”) forms tight clumps of small pads covered in snowy white spines. The unusual Joseph’s coat prickly pear (O. monacantha variegata) grows to about 18 inches, and forms variegated green and cream pads and small red flowers. All are hardy from U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 7 to 10 except the variegated form, which is hardy down to zone 9. Cacti of the Southwest; Del Weniger Hardy Succulents: Tough Plants for Every Climate; Gwen Moore Kelaidis Prickly pear cactus Prickly pear cactus Opuntia A wonderfully diverse group of plants, prickly pear cacti include some of the few hardy species for cold-climate gardeners. The plants are known for their spiny, paddle-shape leaves and colorful summertime cup-shape flowers. Most types grow best in full sun and gravelly, well-drained soil. Oops, we're sorry. Something went wrong. Please try again later. Oops, we're sorry. Something went wrong. Please try again later. Share your take on this idea! Upload your photo here.

Under 6 inches to 8 feet Width: how to grow Prickly pear cactus Propagation more varieties for Prickly pear cactus Bunny ears cactus Opuntia microdasys is native to the North American Southwest and shows off red new growth that matures to dark green pads. Cheery yellow flowers appear in early summer. It grows 3 feet tall and 5 feet wide. Zones 9-10 'Pink' prickly pear Opuntia compressa 'Pink' is a hardy, easy-growing selection that offers bold pink flowers in summer. It grows 12 inches tall and 18 inches wide. Zones 4-9 Prickly pear Opuntia compressa, also called O. humifisa, is a North American species that offers golden-yellow flowers in summer. The red fruits are edible. It grows 12 inches tall and 18 inches wide. Zones 4-9 Spineless prickly pear Opuntia ellisiana is a North American native that bears yellow (rarely pink, orange, or red) flowers and tiny, hidden spines. It grows 3 feet tall and 6 feet wide.

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Prickly pear induces upregulation of liver LDL binding in familial heterozygous hypercholesterolemia. Nucl.Med Rev Cent.East Eur 2003;6(1):35-39. View abstract. Panico, A. M., Cardile, V., Garufi, F., Puglia, C., Bonina, F., and Ronsisvalle, S. Effect of hyaluronic acid and polysaccharides from Opuntia ficus indica (L.) cladodes on the metabolism of human chondrocyte cultures. J.Ethnopharmacol. 5-4-2007;111(2):315-321. View abstract. PARIS, R. [Flavonoside of the flowers of Opuntia vulgaris Miller.]. C.R.Hebd.Seances Acad.Sci 7-2-1951;233(1):90-92. View abstract. Pittler, M. H., Verster, J. C., and Ernst, E.

Interventions for preventing or treating alcohol hangover: systematic review of randomised controlled trials. BMJ 12-24-2005;331(7531):1515-1518. View abstract. Qiu, Y. K., Dou, D. Q., Pei, Y. P., Yoshikawa, M., Matsuda, H., and Chen, Y. J. [Study on chemical constituents from Opuntia dillenii]. Zhongguo Zhong.Yao Za Zhi. 2005;30(23):1824-1826. View abstract. Qiu, Y. K., Dou, D. Q., Pei, Y. P., Yoshikawa, M., Matsuda, H., and Chen, Y. J. [The isolation and identification of a new alpha-pyrone from Opuntia dillenii]. Yao Xue.Xue.Bao. 2003;38(7):523-525. View abstract.

Qiu, Y., Chen, Y., Pei, Y., Matsuda, H., and Yoshikawa, M. Constituents with radical scavenging effect from Opuntia dillenii: structures of new alpha-pyrones and flavonol glycoside. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 2002;50(11):1507-1510. View abstract. Rodriguez-Garcia, M. E., de, Lira C., Hernandez-Becerra, E., Cornejo-Villegas, M. A., Palacios-Fonseca, A. J., Rojas-Molina, I., Reynoso, R., Quintero, L. C., Del-Real, A., Zepeda, T. A., and Munoz-Torres, C. Physicochemical characterization of nopal pads (Opuntia ficus indica) and dry vacuum nopal powders as a function of the maturation. Plant Foods Hum.Nutr. 2007;62(3):107-112. View abstract. Sagher, F. and SHANON, J.

Sabra dermatitis; an occupational dermatitis due to prickly pear handling stimulating scabies. AMA.Arch Derm. 1956;74(3):269-275. View abstract. Saleem, R., Ahmad, M., Azmat, A., Ahmad, S. I., Faizi, Z., Abidi, L., and Faizi, S. Hypotensive activity, toxicology and histopathology of opuntioside-I and methanolic extract of Opuntia dillenii. Biol Pharm Bull 2005;28(10):1844-1851. View abstract. Sanchez, E., Garcia, S., and Heredia, N. Extracts of edible and medicinal plants damage membranes of Vibrio cholerae. Appl.Environ.Microbiol. 2010;76(20):6888-6894. View abstract. Shanon, Y. and Sagher, F. [Sabra dermatitis. Occupational dermatitis caused by contact with the prickly pear which resembles scurf].

Dermatol.Int 1965;4(2):125-127. View abstract. Steinberg, J. M. and Eitan, A. Prickly pear fruit bezoar presenting as rectal perforation in an elderly patient. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2003;18(4):365-367. View abstract. Stintzing, F. C., Schieber, A., and Carle, R. Identification of betalains from yellow beet (Beta vulgaris L.) and cactus pear [Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.] by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. J Agric.Food Chem 4-10-2002;50(8):2302-2307. View abstract. Tesoriere L, Allegra M Butera D et al. Absorption, excretion, and distribution of dietary antioxidant betalains in LDLs: Potential health effects of betalains in humans. Am J Clin Nutr 2004;80:941-945.

Torres-Castillo, J. A., Mondragon, Jacobo C., and Blanco-Labra, A. Characterization of a highly stable trypsin-like proteinase inhibitor from the seeds of Opuntia streptacantha (O. streptacantha Lemaire). Phytochemistry 2009;70(11-12):1374-1381. View abstract. Vargas, V. H., Orea, Solano M., Sanchez, M. A., and Valencia, M. P. [Rhinitis and osmylogenic asthma caused by prickly pear. Presentation of a clinical case]. Rev Alerg.Mex. 1989;36(2):69-71. View abstract. Whiting, D. A. and Bristow, J. H. Dermatitis and keratoconjunctivitis caused by a prickly pear (Opuntia microdasys). S.Afr.Med J 8-16-1975;49(35):1445-1448. View abstract. Wolfram, R.

M., Kritz, H., Efthimiou, Y., Stomatopoulos, J., and Sinzinger, H. Effect of prickly pear (Opuntia robusta) on glucose- and lipid-metabolism in non-diabetics with hyperlipidemia--a pilot study. Wien.Klin.Wochenschr. 10-31-2002;114(19-20):840-846. View abstract. Ahmad A, Davies J, Randall S, Skinner GR. Antiviral properties of extract of Opuntia streptacantha. Antiviral Res 1996;30:75-85. View abstract. Argaez-Lopez N, Wacher NH, Kumate-Rodriguez J, et al. The use of complementary and alternative medicine therapies in type 2 diabetic patients in Mexico. Diabetes Care 2003;26:2470-1. View abstract. Bacardi-Gascon M, Duenas-Mena D, Jimenez-Cruz A. Lowering effect on postprandial glycemic response of nopales added to Mexican breakfasts.

Diabetes Care 2007;30:1264-5. View abstract. Bush TM, Rayburn KS, Holloway SW, et al. Adverse interactions between herbal and dietary substances and prescription medications: a clinical survey. Altern Ther Health Med 2007;13:30-5. View abstract. Fernandez ML, Lin EC, Trejo A, McNamara DJ. Prickly pear (Opuntia sp.) pectin alters hepatic cholesterol metabolism without affecting cholesterol absorption in guinea pigs fed a hypercholesterolemic diet. J Nutr 1994;124:817-24. View abstract. Frati AC, Xilotl Diaz N, Altamirano P, et al. The effect of two sequential doses of Opuntia streptacantha upon glycemia. Arch Invest Med (Mex) 1991;22:333-6. View abstract. Frati Munari AC, Quiroz Lazaro JL, Alramirano Bustamante P, et al.

The effect of various doses of nopal (Opuntia streptacantha Lemaire) on the glucose tolerance test in healthy individuals. Arch Invest Med (Mex) 1988;19:143-8. Frati Munari AC, Vera Lastra O, Ariza Andraca CR. Evaluation of nopol capsules in diabetes mellitus. Gac Med Mex 1992;128:431-6. View abstract. Frati-Munari AC, Altamirano-Bustamante E, Rodríguez-Bárcenas N, et al. Hypoglycemic action of Opuntia streptacantha Lemaire: study using raw extracts. Arch Invest Med (Mex) 1989;20:321-5. View abstract. Frati-Munari AC, Del Valle-Martinez LM, Ariza-Andraca CR, et al. Hypoglycemic action of different doses of nopal (Opuntia streptacantha Lemaire) in patients with type II diabetes mellitus.

Arch Invest Med (Mex) 1989;20:197-201. View abstract. Frati-Munari AC, Gordillo BE, Altamirano P, Ariza CR. Hypoglycemic effect of Opuntia streptacantha Lemaire in NIDDM. Diabetes Care 1988;11:63-6. View abstract. Frati-Munari AC, Licona-Quesada R, Araiza-Andraca CR, et al. Activity of Opuntia streptocantha in healthy individuals with induced hyperglycemia. Arch Invest Med (Mex) 1990;21:99-102. View abstract. Frati-Munari AC, Roca-Vides RA, Lopez-Perez RJ, et al. The glycemic index of some foods common in Mexico. Gac Med Mex 1991;127:163-70. View abstract. Meckes-Lozyoa M, Roman-Ramos R. Opuntia streptacantha; a coadjutor in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

Am J Chin Med 1986;14:116-8. Newcomer AD, Park HS, O'Brien PC, McGill DB. Response of patients with irritable bowel syndrome and lactase deficiency using unfermented acidophilus milk. Am J Clin Nutr 1983;38:257-63. View abstract. Palevitch D, Earon G, Levin I. Treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy with Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller. Int J Comp Alt Med 1994;Sept:21-2. Rayburn K, Martinez R, Escobedo M, et al. Glycemic effects of various species of nopal (Opuntia sp.) in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Texas J Rural Health 1998;26:68-76. Roman-Ramos R, Flores-Saenz JL, Alarcon-Aguilar FJ. Anti-hyperglycemic effect of some edible plants. J Ethnopharmacol 1995;48:25-32. View abstract.

Roman-Ramos R, Flores-Saenz JL, Partida-Hernandez G, et al. Experimental study of the hypoglycemic effect of some antidiabetic plants. Arch Invest Med (Mex) 1991;22:87-93. View abstract. Sobieraj DM, Freyer CW. Probable hypoglycemic adverse drug reaction associated with prickly pear cactus, glipizide, and metformin in a patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Ann Pharmacother 2010;44:1334-7. View abstract. Tesoriere L, Butera D, Pintaudi AM, et al. Supplementation with cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) fruit decreases oxidative stress in healthy humans: a comparative study with vitamin C. Am J Clin Nutr 2004;80:391-5. View abstract. Trejo-Gonzalez A, Gabriel-Ortiz G, Puebla-Perez A, et al. A purified extract from prickly pear cactus (Opuntia fuliginosa) controls experimentally induced diabetes in rats.

J Ethnopharmacol 1996;55:27-33. View abstract. Villasenor IM, Lamadrid MR. Comparative anti-hyperglycemic potentials of medicinal plants. J Ethnopharmacol 2006;104:129-31. View abstract. Wiese J, McPherson S, Odden MC, Shlipak MG. Effect of Opuntia ficus indica on symptoms of the alcohol hangover. Arch Intern Med 2004;164:1334-40. View abstract. Wolfram R, Budinsky A, Efthimiou Y, et al. Daily prickly pear consumption improves platelet function. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2003;69:61-6. View abstract. Aires, V., Adote, S., Hichami, A., Moutairou, K., Boustani, E. S., and Khan, N. A. Modulation of intracellular calcium concentrations and T cell activation by prickly pear polyphenols. Mol.Cell Biochem.

2004;260(1-2):103-110. View abstract. Alarcon-Aguilar, F. J., Valdes-Arzate, A., Xolalpa-Molina, S., Banderas-Dorantes, T., Jimenez-Estrada, M., Hernandez-Galicia, E., and Roman-Ramos, R. Hypoglycemic activity of two polysaccharides isolated from Opuntia ficus-indica and O. streptacantha. Proc.West Pharmacol.Soc. 2003;46:139-142. View abstract. Alimi, H., Hfaiedh, N., Bouoni, Z., Hfaiedh, M., Sakly, M., Zourgui, L., and Rhouma, K. B. Antioxidant and antiulcerogenic activities of Opuntia ficus indica f. inermis root extract in rats. Phytomedicine. 12-1-2010;17(14):1120-1126. View abstract. Andrade-Cetto, A.

and Wiedenfeld, H. Anti-hyperglycemic effect of Opuntia streptacantha Lem. J.Ethnopharmacol. 1-27-2011;133(2):940-943. View abstract. Baldassano, S., Tesoriere, L., Rotondo, A., Serio, R., Livrea, M. A., and Mule, F. Inhibition of the mechanical activity of mouse ileum by cactus pear (Opuntia Ficus Indica, L, Mill.) fruit extract and its pigment indicaxanthin. J.Agric.Food Chem. 7-14-2010;58(13):7565-7571. View abstract. Banuelos, G. S., Fakra, S. C., Walse, S. S., Marcus, M. A., Yang, S. I., Pickering, I. J., Pilon-Smits, E. A., and Freeman, J. L.

Selenium accumulation, distribution, and speciation in spineless prickly pear cactus: a drought- and salt-tolerant, selenium-enriched nutraceutical fruit crop for biofortified foods. Plant Physiol 2011;155(1):315-327. View abstract. Bensadon, S., Hervert-Hernandez, D., Sayago-Ayerdi, S. G., and Goni, I. By-products of Opuntia ficus-indica as a source of antioxidant dietary fiber. Plant Foods Hum.Nutr. 2010;65(3):210-216. View abstract. Bisson, J. F., Daubie, S., Hidalgo, S., Guillemet, D., and Linares, E. Diuretic and antioxidant effects of Cacti-Nea, a dehydrated water extract from prickly pear fruit, in rats. Phytother.Res. 2010;24(4):587-594. View abstract. Bouslama, L., Hayashi, K., Lee, J.

B., Ghorbel, A., and Hayashi, T. Potent virucidal effect of pheophorbide a and pyropheophorbide a on enveloped viruses. J.Nat.Med. 2011;65(1):229-233. View abstract. See 38 Reviews for this Treatment - OR - Related to PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS Learn about User Reviews and read IMPORTANT information about user generated content Conditions of Use and Important Information: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you. This copyrighted material is provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence.

For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version. © Therapeutic Research Faculty 2009. 3 Ways to Grow Prickly Pears - wikiHow Growing Prickly Pear From Seeds 1 Obtain the seeds. You can do this by purchasing them from a nursery or garden store, or you can extract them from prickly pear fruit. Prickly pear fruit is a red, egg-shaped fruit that grows off the top of the prickly pear plant. To remove the seeds from a fruit: [1] Put on gloves to protect your hands from the thorns. Slice the ends off the fruit. Stand the fruit up on one end. Make a thin, vertical slice down one side of the skin, and carefully stick a finger underneath. Peel away the skin by unwrapping the fruit like an orange. Use your fingers to break apart the flesh to find the seeds, which are studded throughout the fruit. 2 Prepare a garden pot. Take a small garden pot that has a hole in the bottom. Cover the bottom of the pot with a layer of small rocks, which will allow water to drain better.

Fill the pot with soil that contains about half soil and half sand, rough pumice, or loam. These soils drain better than ones with a high clay content, and are more similar to the natural desert soils a cactus prefers. [2] If you don’t have any garden pots, you can use a plastic cup. Poke a hole in the bottom to allow water to drain out. To grow multiple prickly pears, prepare several garden pots in this way. 3 Plant the seeds. Lay one or two seeds on top of the soil. Gently press the seeds into the soil and cover them with about one-quarter inch of soil. [3] Add a small amount of water. You want the soil to be moist, but not wet. 4 Keep the pots in a shady place. Cactus seeds don’t need direct sunlight the way established plants do. keep the pots in a shaded area that’s surrounded by sunlight. As the seeds grow, keep the soil moist until they germinate. [4] Water the soil when it starts to become dry to the touch.

Prickly pears grown from seeds tend to take longer to grow than propagated plants, and the resulting cacti could take three to four years to produce flowers and fruit. However, growing plants from seeds is important for ensuring genetic diversity. [5] Method Propagating Prickly Pear 1 Find an establish prickly pear to propagate. Another way to grow prickly pear is to use a cutting from an established plant. Ask friends and neighbors if you can take a cutting from one of their plants if you don’t have any established prickly pears of your own. To propagate prickly pear from existing plants, you use cuttings from the pads of the plants, which are actually modified stems or branches. [6] The pads are the flat, green, fleshy parts that make up the majority of the plant. 2 Cut off a pad. Select a healthy pad that’s medium or large in size, and between one and three years old. Ideally, look for a pad that’s free of damage, specks, or any deformities. [7] To take a cutting, hold the top of the pad with a gloved hand and slice the pad above the joint where it attaches to the rest of the plant.

[8] Don’t cut the pad below the joint, because this can cause infection and the plant will rot. 3 Let the pad form a callous. To prevent infection and rotting, you must let the cactus pad cutting form a callous where it was cut before you can plant it. Lay the pad on a bed of soil or sandy soil for one to two weeks, until the cut has healed. [9] Leave the pad in a shaded area while you're waiting for the callous to form. 4 Prepare a garden pot. Fill the bottom of a medium planting pot with stones to allow for drainage. Fill the rest of the pot with sandy or loamy soil, which will also allow for good drainage. The ideal soil will be a half-and-half mixture of soil and sand or pumice. [10] 5 Plant the pad when the cut has healed. Make a one- to two-inch hole in the soil with your finger. Place the pad upright in the garden pot, with the cut end in the soil. Bury the end. Do not bury the end more than one or two inches deep, otherwise it could rot.

[11] If the pad is having trouble standing, surround it with a few rocks to prop it up. Do not water the pad for about a month after planting. The pad will have enough moisture in it to sprout new roots. 6 Place the pad in the sun. Unlike prickly pear seeds, pads need plenty of direct sunlight. However, the pads can sunburn in hot sun, so it’s important to protect the pad from direct sunlight between the hours of 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., when the sun is strongest. [12] To avoid having to move the prickly pear constantly, you can position the plant so the broad sides of the pad are facing east and west, so the thinner sides of the pad are facing the sun when it’s at its hottest. This will protect it from sunburn so that you don’t have to move it out of the sun every afternoon. 7 Water the pad after a month. After three to four weeks, the pad will have lost its moisture and will begin to look shrivelled. This means it has grown and established the new roots, and it’s time to give the cactus water. Give the plant enough water to make the soil moist.

From now on, only water the plant when the soil is fully dry. Remove the rocks that were supporting the pad. The pad should be able to support itself now, and is on its way to becoming an established prickly pear plant. Method Caring for Prickly Pears 1 Choose a permanent location for the cactus. You can continue growing your prickly pear in a pot, or you can transplant it into the ground. To transplant the cactus, choose an outdoor location that gets lots of full sun exposure. Even if you keep the prickly pear in a pot, it still needs to be positioned somewhere that gets full sun. If you live in a climate with colder winters where temperatures dip below 14 F (-10 C), keep the prickly pear in a pot so you can move it indoors when the weather gets cold. [13] 2 Transplant the cactus. The best time to transplant a prickly pear is in the late spring, when the risk of frost and excessive rain are done. [14] Dig a hole that’s about the same size as the pot the cactus is in. Get the pot as near to the hole as possible.

Gently tip the pot upside down and cup the plant with a gloved hand. [15] Place the roots in the hole and cover it with soil. Pack the soil down with your hands and saturate it with water. During the first week, water the plant every three to four days. After that, water the cactus every three to four weeks. Once the prickly pear is established, it will not need any extra watering aside from the rain it gets. 3 Harvest pads and fruit once the plant is established. Let the prickly pear establish itself for several months before harvesting pads or fruit. Wait for the plant to grow a second or third pad before harvesting pads, [16] and wait until there are at least eight blooms on a pad before harvesting the fruit it produces. [17] Cut pads with a sharp knife in the late morning or early afternoon. This is when the acid content is lowest. Remove the pads just above the joint. Harvest fruit by twisting the fruit and gently pulling it away from the pad. You know the fruit is ripe when the glochids, or thorns, fall off the light or dark colored bumps on the fruit.

Be sure to wear gloves to protect your hands from thorns when harvesting from the prickly pear. 4 Cover the soil with mulch in winter. To prevent damage from the cold, even if you live in a warm climate, cover the soil surrounding the prickly pear with mulch in the fall. [18] If you live in a cold climate and have your cactus in a pot, bring the prickly pear inside in the fall to prevent it from freezing. Community Q&A I propagated my prickly pear from a pad two to three years ago and it's healthy, but hasn't grown another pad or flower. I live in Johannesburg. What can I do? wikiHow Contributor While cacti are extremely drought tolerant, they still require water. If it is not growing, it likely needs additional water. Cacti also are intolerant of shade. How close to a south-facing wall can the cactus be planted? wikiHow Contributor Outdoors, it needs full sun. Indoors, a south-facing window is the bare minimum, and will likely result in poor growth.

Updated: Views: 66,342 "I have a lot of cacti, and did not know how to care for them or how to harvest and use them. This article has been very informative and helpful. I especially used the part where it suggests when propagating to let the stem dry for a couple of weeks."..." more - Faye Gilmore "Fantastic advice! I was able to grow prickly pear from seeds several times this year as a result of your advice. The part that took me a while to get was the process of drying the seeds, soaking them, and then putting them in shaded soil."..." more - Anonymous "The most helpful part was that I can plant a different type of cactus directly into the soil without it callousing over. Good info to know. Thank you."..." more - Skye Jordan Propagating prickly pear from cuttings was the most helpful part for me. - Anonymous I found all information given to be extremely helpful. - Anonymous Very clear article, intelligently written. Thank you! - Anonymous Photos and simple instructions helped.

- Anonymous Cactus Wren Fact Sheet Plant Fact Sheet: Prickly Pear Cactus Identifying Features The Engelmann prickly pear cactus (Opuntia engelmannii) can be easily identified by it's broad, flat, green pads. The white spines are 3" long and can be flat, curved or straight. They also are covered with tiny, barbed hairs known as glochids. Groups of up to 6 spines emerge from a common center areas known as areole's which are scattered around each pad. The flowers are yellow and emerge in May-June. Ripe fruit are found beginning in July and are identified by their bright red color. Habitat Prickly pear are found growing in washes, rocky hillsides, around boulders, and in areas where the soil is sandy or gravelly. Range The Englemann variety of prickly pear can be found over much of the desert southwest from central Texas through inland southern California. Their range extends into northern Baja California and into central Sonora, Mexico. Life Span They are known to live well over 20 years. Size There are several different varieties of prickly pear cactus each growing to different sizes.

The most common species in the Sonoran Desert is the Engelmann prickly pear which grows up to 5 feet tall and can grow to a width of 10-15 feet. Quick Facts

Question: What kind of plant is a prickly pear?
Answer: Cactus