Opuntia fragilis Prickly pear (Cactaceae) Evergreen perennial

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Opuntia fragilis
Prickly pear
Evergreen perennial
(1 Page of 5)

The Opuntia fragilis plant species is found in N. America - Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota to South Dakota, British Columbia, Kansas and Utah. It is a member of the Cactaceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Prickly pear.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Opuntia fragilis
Common Name:  Prickly pear
Family:  Cactaceae
Author:  (Nutt.)Haw.

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].

Mature Height:  0.1   Mature Width:  0.3

Habitat:  Dry prairies, sandhills and rocks[204].

Edible Uses: 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].

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Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
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