Edible prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica)

Edible prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) is a plant of succulent leaves that can grow 3m – 8m tall and 3m – 8m wide.

This plant has several common names including: edible prickly pear, Indian fig, Barbary fig or tuna.

This is a evergreen plant that takes 10-20 years to reach full maturity.

Plant profile

Common name: edible prickly pear, Indian fig, Barbary fig, tuna
Scientific name: Opuntia ficus-indica
Plant type: Cactus / Succulent, Conservatory & Greenhouse
Habit: Columnar / Upright
Height: 3m – 8m
Spread: 3m – 8m
Foliage: Evergreen
Sunlight: Full Sun
Soil: Loam, Sand
Moisture: Well drained
Garden type: Patio & Container Garden
Other characteristics: Drought resistant

Seasonal colors

How to plant Edible prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) – Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Cultivation profiles – Growing Edible prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) – Jebulon, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons