Barbary Fig (Opuntia Ficus Indica)

Botanical name: Opuntia Ficus-Indica

Also known as:

• Edible prickly pear 
• Indian fig 
• Barbary fig 
• Tuna 
• Smooth Mountain 
• Prickly Pear
• Mission Cactus
• Tuberous Prickly Pear
• Sweet Prickly Pear
• Cactus Pear
• Spineless Cactus

Opuntia ficus-indica is an evergreen perennial succulent shrub plant. 

Prickly Pear has a slightly unknown origin, as it was cultivated for their edible fruits since ancient times. It is thought to have originated from Mexico, as it prefers slightly sandy soil and is drought tolerant. 

Prickly pears and other Opuntia species are very popular desert cacti grown as houseplants. They are highly ornamental, made up of segmented stems of wide, flat, thick pads that are covered in spines.

Some have large, rounded spines while others have tiny, hair-like barbs that detach on contact with the plant, stick in the skin and can be difficult to remove – so handle with care.

Prickly pears are best grown in well-drained, light, sandy and loamy soil.

Only water when the top two inches of the soil look dry. A rule of thumb would be once a week.

(Flowering plants only blossom naturally in their respective seasons. Fruit-bearing plants only produce fruits naturally during their growing seasons. All plants are sold in generic nursery pots, and may naturally vary in colors/sizes from the exact images illustrated above.)