OPUNTIA PADS from N Eastern variety

Opuntia compressa var. humifusa

Edible Pads & Red Fruit rich in antioxidants 🍇

Organically grown without pesticides or chemicals outdoors in Pennsylvania where this type is native. It becomes dormant and sleeps under the snow in Winter as a hardy perennial 🌵These are highly deer resistant and most bugs are not interested in them.

This listing is for (at least) 3 healthy, un-rooted cactus pads (cuttings). They will develop roots when placed on soil and start growing within a few weeks. You can start them indoors but they really take off outside in full or partial sun. 🌞  You will have your own patch in a couple seasons.

This versatile cactus will thrive in zone 5 to 11 (will survive in -10F to -20F temperatures) in most parts of the US 🇺🇸 in well drained soil.

The PA Biological Survey (PABS) considers eastern prickly-pear cactus to be a species of special concern. It has a PA legal rarity status and a PABS suggested rarity status of Rare. 

The Prickly Pear is low maintenance, very prolific species of cactus that anyone can grow. Once established they are virtually maintenance free. This species will produce beautiful yellow flowers in the spring, and then fruit in the Fall.

Opuntia are a wonderful addition to any landscape design. Great in borders, hillsides, rock gardens or planted in containers. 

Both the fruit and the pads are edible. This species has tiny pricklies that you can burn off on a stove or with a butane lighter. A vegetable peeler will also work.

There are many recipes online but my favorite method of preparation is to make strips like string beans, and sauté in olive oil and garlic. 

My tortoises 🐢 eat them raw after I burn off the tiny pricklies. Although In the wild many reptiles eat them with the pricklies.

The pricklies are not that big a deal if you handle them with tongs or gloves. Glochids or glochidia are hair-like spines or short prickles,  found on the areoles of cacti in the sub-family Opuntioideae. There are NO WINTER HARDY OPUNTIA THAT ARE Spineless (no pricklies).

I'll send at least 3 unrooted pads anywhere in the continental US 🇺🇸 if you order them when they are dormant I can often squeeze in more than 3 pads because they shrink in Winter. They plump up again when they resume growing. If volume discounts appear it is for additional lots of 3 pads. 

Will ship USPS First Class anywhere in the US except Hawaii

I regret no international shipping on this plant. 

Thanks for your interest and please check out my other interesting items 👀