What Are the Properties of a Prickly Pear?

Appearance

• The characteristic structure of prickly pear consists of a number of flat, thickened pads, reminiscent of small pingpong paddles, that grow in a branching, shrublike arrangement. The pads are typically green, although red or purple varieties also occur. The pads possess small dots, known as areoles, on the sides and edges. The areoles have minute cactus spines, known as glochids, as well as larger, more-prototypical spines. Most species grow as shrubs, but some have a crawling growth habit.

Reproduction

• Many species of prickly pear have large, deeply colored blossoms. In the wild, flowers occur mainly in spring, but these plants can bloom at almost any time of year under favorable conditions. Prickly pear flowers develop into egg-size fruits shaped like pears or figs. Fruits turn bright red when ripe, and the fleshy interior contains large numbers of small black seeds. Plants reproduce by seeds, especially when birds or other animals eat the fruits and deposit seeds elsewhere in droppings.

Propagation

• Although prickly pears produce abundant, fertile seeds, growers usually propagate this plant through cuttings. Pads readily separate from the plant and quickly root when placed in contact with soil. To make a cutting, simply grasp a pad with kitchen tongs and twist it at the joint where it attaches to the plant; there's no need to slice the pad off the plant. Roots form within a few weeks, and the plant may be capable of blooming after only a few months.

Growing Conditions

• Prickly pears grow natively throughout the western parts of the United States and Canada, as well as in Central and South America. Many species grow in hot, arid deserts, but others live in moist coastal areas or in the cold, high deserts of Montana and Wyoming. Prickly pears are highly adapted to dry environments, and most species are intolerant of wet conditions, especially during winter dormancy.