Life Cycle
Perennial
Water Requirement
Dry
Moderate
Light Requirement
Full Sun
Max Height
3 Ft.
Price
$13.95

Prickly Pear is a fascinating Florida native that thrives in challenging environments, including periods of drought and salt spray. It is unique in appearance, provides ecological benefits and culinary uses which makes it a very useful plant in any landscape. Its pads provides shelter for birds and its vibrant yellow flowers attracts a variety of pollinators such as bees and butterflies. It prefers well-draining soil and thrives in full sun.

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How to care for Florida Prickly Pear

Light. Needs full sun.

Water. It does not want wet soil. Once established it handles very long dry spells.

Soil and feeding. Plant it in sandy, well-drained soil.

Size. Usually 1–2 ft tall and 1–3 ft wide, reaching about 3 ft. New plants grow from broken pieces of the plant.

Problems to watch. The invasive cactus moth attacks this species. Remove the caterpillars and damaged pads by hand rather than spraying insecticides, which harm native bees.

Good to know. A Florida native with high tolerance of salt spray and salty soil, though not of salt-water flooding. Bees and the dotted skipper butterfly visit the flowers. Its spines catch anyone who brushes past, so keep it away from paths.