Nature’s holiday bulbs, prickly pear cactus blooming in December, 2016.
I’ve always thought that cactus plants liked dry air and soil so I was surprised to find that Florida has a native cactus: the prickly pear.
The cactus bears fruit and is known as Florida's "apple."
The cactus bears fruit and is known as Florida's "apple."
The cup-shaped, yellow, orange, or red flowers are showy. Though the plant blooms over several weeks, each flower lasts one day.
In Wildewood, it seems like the prickly pear knows when winter visitors arrive because the blooms begin around the holidays.
In Wildewood, it seems like the prickly pear knows when winter visitors arrive because the blooms begin around the holidays.
The bulbs become fruits called pears.
Prickly pear is drought and heat resistant. It requires lots of space (best planted in the open, not next to buildings) and a sunny, well-drained site. It does not like prolonged wet conditions.
The fleshy, pear fruit is edible and delicious! Just be sure not to touch the pear because it is covered with hair-like thorns.
