Opuntia humifusa

Description

Opuntia humifusa, or Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus, is a sun-loving cactus native to eastern North America. This cactus thrives in full sun and sandy, dry conditions, making it ideal for the driest part of your garden. Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus produces stunning, bright yellow flowers from July to August alongside fleshy, green pads. After flowering, the pads produce bright red, edible fruits. In the winter, the pads dry up, appearing dead, only to be revived in spring. Be sure to handle the cactus with care, as the pads are covered in clusters of barbed bristles. However, after carefully washing in water and cutting off the bristles, the leaf pads can be cooked like string beans and eaten.