Nopal Cactus belongs to the genus Opuntia which hosts all the Prickly Pear Cacti. We are unsure of the exact species of our Nopal Cactus. It is spineless, meaning it does not have long or short sharp spines projecting off the pads like other cacti in this genus. There is a species of Prickly Pear cactus that is native to FL. This plant is not that species. This Nopal has no spines, has a red flower, a very small fruit, and grows well in FL. 
 
The pads of Nopal cactus are edible. It once was a common addition to Mexican and Central American cuisine. While it is not common in the U.S., many people are interested in using it for feeding reptiles especially tortoises. 
 
We have found that Nopal cactus is very useful in our food forest. It grows quickly and the large pads provide fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to your diet. Even though the pads are spineless, care should be taken to remove the tiny "hairs" on the pad that could make eating the pad unpleasant. We like to remove the skin off the pad, boil the pads for around 20 minutes to remove the gelatinous inner substance, and then either grilling or cubing the pad for a stir fry. There are many recipes that can be found online. The flowers and fruits are edible as well. 
 
Native to Mexico
Other species are native to parts of the southern U.S.
Can grow quite tall sometimes up to 10'
Prefers full sun and dry conditions but will also grow in some shade
Enjoys dry or well draining soils. We grow one of ours in a pot and it thrives.
Can be grown in zones 9-11
 
Sizes:
0.5 - 1 gal
 
Shipping materials are recycled. Please feel free to compost our shredded paper we use for cushioning. The package may have been reused. Feel free to reuse again, use as mulch, or recycle.
 
Plants are only shipped on Mondays and Tuesdays. This is to avoid plants sitting at a post office or warehouse over a weekend and reducing shipping stress on plants. Plants arrive healthier and quicker when you select priority shipping. Plants ship from Florida. Keep that in mind when deciding to buy and selecting shipping options. 
 
No refunds, exchanges, or returns. By purchasing this plant, you are accepting the risk of having plants mailed to you. Our most common carrier is USPS. Any damaged packages, damaged plants, dead plants or irregular shipping patterns should be claimed through the USPS insurance claims system. All orders come with a standard insurance of up to $100.00. You will need to provide the following for an insurance claim:
Receipt of your order that you can obtain through your order history or email. 
Pictures of the package upon arrival
Pictures of the contents upon arrival