Opuntia ficus indica
Prickly pear, Tuna, Indian fig, Indian fig, Prickly pear, Mission cactus, Tuna mansa, Smooth mountain prickly pear
Also known as Opuntia occidentalis
- Height × spread
- 5m × 3m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Heated greenhouse 10C & above (RHS H1b)
- Flowers
- Summer
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This is a cactus that can be grown outside in favoured Mediterranean gardens. It has big oval paddle shaped leaves with white spines grouped on the leaf surface. It can flower in late spring or early summer when it produced yellow cup shaped flowers. The ovoid purple fruits that follow are edible. It can reach a height of 5m (16ft) with a 3m (10ft) spread. This can be grown in a greenhouse with a minimum temperature of 10 degrees C with very well drained gritty but humus rich soil in a sunny position. Feed it regularly in summer and keep it nearly dry during the winter months.
- Flower colour
- Yellow
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Fruit colour
- Purple
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Cone
- Height
- 5m
- Spread
- 3m
- Height in 10 years
- 2m
- Spread in 10 years
- 1m
- Season of interest
- Summer
- Flowers in
- Summer
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Mediterranean garden, Indoors, Conservatory
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Gravelly soil, Poor soil, Sandy soil
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil, Dry soil, Drought resistant
- Hardiness
- Heated greenhouse 10C & above (RHS H1b)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Indoor light
- full light at all times
- Indoor temperature
- 10C minimum temperature
- Hazards
- Yes, leaves & stems are prickly/thorny and potentially harmful; Humans: Irritant to skin/eye
AutumnNow
Autumn-Winter · Indoors
Keep dry during dormancy
Keep dry during the period of dormancy or resting, which is likely to be from the middle of the autumn until spring.
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Indoors
Water regularly during growth
Water regularly while in growth
Adopt a regime whereby plants are thoroughly watered every week so that they do not become dessicated. In hot weather watering may need to be more frequent, but less often in cool or moist conditions.
Summer
Summer-Autumn · Indoors
Feed with cactus feed
Use specialist cactus feed and apply monthly from June until September, using the quantity advised on the container .
Planting & general
Indoor temperature · Planting
10C minimum temperature
This plant requires a minimum temperature of 10 Centigrade.
Compost · Planting
Cactus compost for repotting
Use standard cactus compost. Top the soil with grit or granite chips to ensure perfect drainage around plant stem. Repot when the plant is dry and delay watering for 3 days after repotting.
You can also make own compost using 3 parts John Innes no. 2, 1 part horticultural grit, and 1 part horticultural grade perlite or pumice. There are many 'recipes' available and opinions vary widely - consult specialist literature or websites.
Indoor plant · Planting
Position in a sunny spot, eg windowsill
Give this plant a position where there is as much light and sunlight as possible. It is suitable for sunny windowsills as it can cope with high day temperatures and lower night temperatures.