Origin
Mediterranean
Light
Full sun
Watering
Weekly
Care
Moderate
Flowering
Flowering
Edible & Fruit
Figuier de Barbarie
With its spiny pads and juicy fruit crowning field edges, the Prickly Pear is the emblematic cactus of North African landscapes.
Care Profile
A guide to ensuring your botanical companion thrives.
Origin
Mexico
Light
Full sun
Watering
Rarely
Maintenance
Easy
The cactus that became Maghrebi
Native to Mexico, the Prickly Pear has acclimatised so thoroughly in North Africa that it is now inseparable from it, serving as defensive hedging, fodder and a source of fruit.
Its fruit, harvested at the height of summer, is sold by street vendors throughout Tunisia, and its seed oil is now highly sought after in cosmetics.
"The prickly pear protects, feeds and quenches all at once."
01
Styling Tip 01
Full Sun
It requires full sun and above all fears shade and prolonged damp.
02
Styling Tip 02
Very Infrequent Watering
Like any cactus, it stores water in its pads: water only in extreme drought.
03
Styling Tip 03
Handle with Care
Its fine glochids embed easily in skin: wear thick gloves and handle the fruit with a cloth.
Similar plants
More botanical treasures to discover.
Origin
Mediterranean
Light
Full sun
Watering
Rarely
Care
Easy
Flowering
Flowering