Opuntia

Prickly pear; cholla. About 300 species of cacti, ranging in form from prostrate to tree-like. All are native to North or South America. Many species are cultivated as ornamentals, and a few are grown for their edible fruit. Opuntias have fleshy, conspicuously jointed stems and, usually, showy flowers. Technically, the plants are usually leafless, but their green stems give them the appearance of being evergreen. In some species the stems take the form of flattened pads; these kinds are generally called "prickly pears". In others the stems are cylindrical; these species are known as "chollas". Some Opuntias are densely covered with spines, while others have few or none. All, however, have clusters of short, barbed bristles called glochids which readily detach from the plant and stick into the skin. Because of these, the plants must be handled very carefully even if they do not have spines. Gloves, a pair of sticks, chicken tongs, or a very delicate touch are called for. The fruit of some of the Opuntias is edible. (Most of the prickly pear types bear edible fruit, but the fruit is often rather insipid.) If the fruit is used, care must be taken to wipe the glochids from the skin of the fruit before eating it. Many Opuntias are quite hardy, tolerating cold, heat, and drought. They do, however, require well-drained soil and should have a good, sunny location. Steps should also be taken to prevent fallen tree leaves from smothering them in fall and winter. Whenever possible, the Opuntias sold here are shipped as rooted plants. In some cases, however, they may be shipped as an unrooted pad, or part of a pad. These can be shallowly planted, on edge, and will quickly develop roots once they are in place.