Cactus
Indian Fig Prickly Pear
Opuntia ficus-indica · Cactaceae
Also called: Mission Cactus, Spineless Prickly Pear, Tuna Cactus, Barbary Fig, Nopal
Indian Fig Prickly Pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) is a low-water cactus well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It thrives in full sun, with a moderate to fast growth rate.
Indian Fig Prickly Pear at a glance
- Water use
- Low (established)
- Sun
- Full sun; tolerates reflected heat. Light shade is acceptable but reduces fruiting.
- Mature size
- 8-15 ft H x 8-12 ft W (tree-like, develops a woody trunk)
- Growth rate
- Moderate to fast
- Bloom
- Yellow to orange (sometimes reddish), Spring into early summer
- Cold hardiness
- Hardy to about 18-22F (USDA zone 9-11); foliage damaged by hard frost but generally recovers in Tucson.
- Soil
- Adaptable; prefers well-drained sandy or loamy soils but tolerates a range. Avoid waterlogged conditions.
- Native range
- Long-cultivated species of Mexican origin (now of uncertain wild provenance), naturalized worldwide; not native to the Sonoran Desert/Arizona but widely grown and naturalized.
- Best used as
- Edible fruit (tunas) and pads (nopales) for cooking, Large barrier or hedge planting, Tree-form specimen, Agricultural/food landscaping
- Wildlife
- Flowers attract bees and pollinators; abundant fruit eaten by birds, javelina, and other wildlife; large structure provides cover and nesting.
- Toxicity
- Not chemically toxic; cultivated forms range from nearly spineless to spiny, and even 'spineless' selections bear glochids. Fruit and young pads are widely eaten by humans after spine/glochid removal.
How to grow Indian Fig Prickly Pear in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Drought tolerant but responds to occasional deep irrigation; in Tucson, water every 2-4 weeks in summer for best growth and fruit production, less or not at all in winter. Tolerates more water than most native cacti but still needs good drainage.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Generally not needed; for commercial-style fruit or pad production, a light application of balanced or low-nitrogen fertilizer in spring can improve yield. Avoid excess nitrogen.
Pruning & care
Prune to remove low or crowded pads, shape the plant, and keep it from becoming top-heavy; cut at the joints with tongs and let cuttings callus before replanting.
Notes
The classic edible prickly pear of cultivation; can become a substantial woody, tree-like cactus. Mission/spineless selections are common in Tucson. Larger and more frost-tender than native species, so site accordingly and allow room.
Sources: AMWUA Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert; University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum