Description

Eastern Prickly Pear | Spineless Opuntia| Opuntia Humifusa Cactus

Opuntia humifusa, commonly known as the devil’s-tongue, eastern prickly pear or Indian fig, is a cactus of the genus Opuntia present in parts of the eastern United States and northeastern Mexico.

Opuntia Humifusa will survive outdoors year-round throughout much of North America. This cactus is cold hardy to zone 2 a/b.

Barbed bristles are found around the surfaces of the segments, and longer spines can sometimes present.

The prickly pear is one of the only two native cactus species in Canada and is considered endangered, with only two small populations known to be persisting today.

The fruits are edible, but have small spiny bristles. The pulp can be scooped and the seeds strained out to make syrup or jelly. The seeds can be briefly roasted and ground into meal. Young cactus segments can be roasted to remove spines, then peeled and sliced to be eaten like string beans; alternatively, they can be deep fried. The leafy segments can be peeled and chewed for emergency hydration.

Flower: Yellow