Cozy Up to the Prickly Pear Cactus

Named the state plant in 1995, the Prickly Pear is of the Opuntia genus with many different species native to Texas. While it isn't a towering behemoth with the man-like appearance of the saguaro, the Prickly Pear is still a distinctive and lovely plant in its own right.

Appearance of the Prickly Pear Cactus:

Although the various species can vary in size and appearance, in general the Prickly Pear is characterized by flat, fleshy, somewhat oval pads. Most species, like most cactus, have spines. They range in height from a few inches to 6 feet or taller.

If Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair, could he still be Fuzzy? How about a Prickly Pear with no prickly? There is a species of Prickly Pear that has the typical ovoid pads but they're nice and smooth.

Family/Genus/Species of the Prickly Pear Cactus:

Family: Cactaceae, Genus: Opuntia, Platyopuntia branch. There are many species of Prickly Pear, more than any other cactus. Some Texas species include: Plains Prickly Pear (Opuntia polyacantha); Brown-Spinded Prickly Pear (Opuntia phaeacantha); Englemann's Prickly Pear (Opuntia engelmannii - the most common species); Smooth Prickly Pear (Opuntia humifusa) and Texas Prickly Pear (Opunita lindheimeri)The blooms of the Prickly Pear may be yellow (most common), red, or purple. Different colors of flowers can appear even within the same species.

Range for the Prickly Pear Cactus:

Found throughout the American Southwest, different species occupy desert, mountain, and even forest regions down into Mexico and up into Canada.

Frequently seen in fields and along roadways in Central Texas, the Prickly Pear can also be found hanging around - even upside down - in some pretty peculiar places. You can see them clinging to cliffs, emerging from cracks in rocks, and even growing from trees.

The Edible Prickly Pear Cactus:

The pads or Nopales (Spanish term for the Prickly Pear pads) are often used in salads, soups, or cooked on the grill. They have an Okra-like 'slime' after cooking that some people find unpleasant and should be rinsed off before serving.
Nopales recipes

The fruit or pear of the Prickly Pear - called a "tuna" - is also edible and is used in jellies and other sweet treats.
Prickly Pear recipes

Say No to Saguaro:

Someone asked me once why people so often use the saguaro cactus as a symbol of the Southwest. A state symbol of Arizona, its limited range doesn't include Texas and some other Southwest states. I don't have a definitive answer but I suspect that the distinctive shape of the mighty saguaro and its appearance in old Hollywood westerns are part of the reason it became synonymous with all things Southwestern. But the real cactus of Texas is the Prickly Pear.

So, the next time you're creating a piece of art with the flavor of Texas, dump those saguaros in favor of a plant truly representative of the Southwest - the versatile (and edible) Prickly Pear.