Prickly pear
Opuntia ficus-indica · Prickly Pears · Cactus family
Also known as: Indian Fig · Barbary Fig · Mission Cactus
Easy100–300cmPet-friendlyEdible
Prickly pear care at a glance
Prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) needs little water and prefers to grow in full sun.
- Water need
- Low
- Light
- Full sun
- Soil moisture
- Dry
- Nutrients
- Low
- Life cycle
- Perennial
Pests, Diseases & Weather on Prickly pear
Possible pests on Prickly pear include Cochineal scale insects, Mealybugs and Spines. A common disease is Root rot. Prickly pear is considered pet-friendly.
Pest
- Cochineal scale insects Medium
- Mealybugs Medium
- Spines Medium
Disease
- Root rot High
Weather
- Frost damage High
A baseline from curated sources, not a command. You decide in the end.
Frequently asked questions about Prickly pear
- Which pests affect Prickly pear?
- Possible pests on Prickly pear include Cochineal scale insects, Mealybugs and Spines.
- Which diseases affect Prickly pear?
- A common disease is Root rot.
- Is Prickly pear toxic to cats and dogs?
- Prickly pear is considered pet-friendly and safe for cats and dogs.
- How much water does Prickly pear need?
- Prickly pear has a low water requirement.
- What light does Prickly pear need?
- Prickly pear prefers to grow in full sun. Around 6 hours of light per day is ideal.
- Is Prickly pear frost-hardy?
- Prickly pear is not frost-hardy. Its lower limit is around 1 °C.
- Can you eat Prickly pear?
- Yes, the edible parts are mainly: fruit and stems.