Opuntia dillenii / Opuntia stricta / Cactus dillenii – Opuntia Prickly Cactus, Dillen Prickly Pear, Sweet Prickly Pear, Eltham Indian Fig

Description

This cactus forms a spreading shrub to about 3 m tall with flat, spiny, blue green shoots to 40 cm long and red, edible fruits. Opuntia dillenii is widely distributed from the southeastern US to Mexico, the Caribbean and northern South America. Like other Opuntia it is easily grown and hardy to some drought and moderate freezes.

Opuntia dillenii is a species of prickly pear native to the tropical and subtropical Americas. It is naturalized in many other parts of the world. It differs from Opuntia stricta by having more spines per areole.