Prickly Pear — Houseplants
Opuntia
Full sun, light watering — frost tender — shelter over winter.
- Plant out
- Apr
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Low
- Difficulty
- Demanding
- Hardiness
- H2
- Season
- spring,summer
- Height
- 400–800 cm
- Pets
- Toxic to pets
- Bee friendly
- Bee friendly
Growing notes
Grows to 4-8 metres. In flower Jun-Sep.
Toxic to pets
Prickly pear irritates skin and eyes: its spines and fine bristles lodge in the skin and are painful, for people and for pets. Handle it with thick gloves or folded newspaper and keep it where a cat or dog cannot brush against it. Get medical advice if bristles get into an eye, and ring your vet if an animal is affected.
→ NHS 111 or your GP for a person; your vet for an animal