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Opuntia fragilis - (Nutt.)Haw.

Common Name Prickly Pear, Brittle pricklypear
Family Cactaceae
USDA hardiness 7-10
Known Hazards The plant has numerous minutely barbed glochids (hairs) that are easily dislodged when the plant is touched and they then become stuck to the skin where they are difficult to see and remove. They can cause considerable discomfort[200].
Habitats Dry prairies, sandhills and rocks[204].
Range N. America - Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota to South Dakota, British Columbia, Kansas and Utah.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Frost Hardy Well drained soil Full sun
Opuntia fragilis Prickly Pear, Brittle pricklypear


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Flo
Opuntia fragilis Prickly Pear, Brittle pricklypear
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stan_Shebs

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Opuntia fragilis is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.1 m (0ft 4in) by 0.3 m (1ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower from June to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

 Cultivated Beds; East Wall. By. South Wall. By.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit  Leaves  Seed
Edible Uses: Gum

Leaf pads - cooked or raw[62, 160]. The outer skin is peeled off before eating the pads[257]. Watery and very mucilaginous[85]. The following notes are for O. compressa. They almost certainly also apply to this species[K]. Fruit - raw, cooked or dried for later use[3, 46, 61, 62, 183]. Sweet and gelatinous[85]. Lean and insipid[95]. The unripe fruits can be added to soups etc, imparting an okra-like mucilaginous quality[183]. The fruit can hang on the plant all year round[160]. Be careful of the plants irritant hairs, see the notes above on toxicity. The fruit of O. fragilis is about 12 x 12 mm[200]. Seed - briefly roasted then ground into a powder[62]. It is also used as a thickener[62].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


The flesh of the leaf pads is diuretic[257]. A poultice of the flesh has been used to treat skin sores and infections[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Gum

The following notes are for O. ficus indica. They almost certainly also apply to this species[K]. A gum is obtained from the stem. It is used as a masticatory or mixed with oil to make candles[64]. The juice of the boiled stem segments is very sticky. It is added to plaster, whitewash etc to make it adhere better to walls[92].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Requires a sandy or very well-drained soil[160]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 to 7.5[200]. Plants must be kept fairly dry in winter but they like a reasonable supply of water in the growing season[200]. A position at the base of a south-facing wall or somewhere that can be protected from winter rain is best for this plant. Requires warmth and plenty of sun. Plants tolerate considerable neglect. This species is fairly cold tolerant and can succeed outdoors in a selected site in the milder areas of the country[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a very well-drained compost in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first two winters. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Give the plants some protection from winter wet. Make sure you have some reserve plants in case those outdoors do not overwinter. Cuttings of leaf pads at any time in the growing season. Remove a pad from the plant and then leave it in a dry sunny place for a couple of days to ensure that the base is thoroughly dry and has begun to callous. Pot up into a sandy compost. Very easy, rooting quickly.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Cylindropuntia spp.ChollaPerennial2.0 8-12 SLMHSND304
Opuntia compressaEastern Prickly Pear, Prickly Pear CactusPerennial0.2 8-10 FLMND312
Opuntia dilleniiDillen prickly pear, Perennial1.0 10-12 MLMNDM303
Opuntia erinaceaMojave Prickly PearPerennial0.5 8-11  LMND202
Opuntia ficus-indicaPrickly Pear, Barbary figPerennial5.0 8-11  LMND323
Opuntia howeyi Perennial0.0 -  LMND202
Opuntia imbricataTree CholaPerennial3.0 8-11  LMND202
Opuntia littoralisWestern Prickly PearPerennial0.6 -  LMND202
Opuntia macrorhizaTwist-Spine Prickly PearPerennial0.1 8-11  LMND202
Opuntia microdasysBunny Ears, Angel's-wingsPerennial0.6 7-10  LMND202
Opuntia phaeacanthaBastard Fig, Tulip pricklypearPerennial0.5 8-11  LMND212
Opuntia polyacanthaPlains Prickly Pear, El Paso pricklypear, Grizzlybear pricklypear, Navajo Bridge pricklypear, HairspPerennial0.2 3-7  LMND312
Opuntia ramosissimaBranched Pencil ChollaPerennial0.6 7-10  LMND302
Opuntia tomentosaVelvet prickly pear, Woollyjoint PricklypearPerennial4.5 9-12 MLMNDM303

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

(Nutt.)Haw.

Botanical References

200235

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Eric Ribbens   Fri Sep 21 2007

No one is going to want to eat the fruit of this species. Unlike most other prickly pears, the fruit is a dry thorny capsule.

Adam Faherty   Wed May 13 2009

According to Chef Rick Bayless, prickly pear needs to be peeled and then boiled. Then you can cut the paddles into 1/4" strips and delicate enough to be used in a salad.

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