Opuntia humifusaIndiana Native

Pricklypear

The Pricklypear is a cactus native to the eastern United States, including Indiana, and is hardy to USDA zone 4. The cactus pads can break off and root into the ground, forming colonies. It is an evergreen plant, but becomes shriveled and wilted during cold winters. Fruits are edible and are often used to make jams and candies. The pads (fleshy green segments with thorns) are also edible as a roasted vegetable. This plant has many long needle-like spines, in addition to numerous small glochids (bristles) that can be much more painful (even causing allergic reactions) than the spines. Once a glochid pierces the skin, it tends to stay in the skin rather than the cactus; removal can be difficult, as the bristles are small and can blend in with hairs on the skin.