The cold hardy prickly pear cactus (Opuntia humifusa) is beautiful, providing showy yellow blooms in June and July in the landscape where they’ve naturalized. The Opuntia humifusa flower sometimes has a red eye, making them even more striking. Flowers may even bloom red or orange. Each bloom lasts just a day, but the plant continues to blossom for weeks. Cold Hardy Prickly Pears When flowers fade, the plant produces tunas, a semi-sweet and juicy fruit. These are popular and collected on a large scale worldwide. They’re used in jams, chutney, or cactus pear jelly. This cactus family member grows primarily in the eastern area of the U.S., hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9. Opuntia humifusa originated in the northeastern plains of the U.S., although the plant is said to be rare in many areas. Common names include Indian fig, the devil’s-tongue, or the eastern prickly pear. It is attractive […]
The post Growing Cold Hardy Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus appeared first on Gardening Know How.
