Indian Fig
Opuntia ficus-indica
A mostly spineless prickly pear prized for its delicious edible fruit and sculptural treelike presence.
Hardy to about 20-25°F, USDA 9-11; a warm low-desert plant grown widely for fruit.
AMWUA Notes
Very drought tolerant, mostly spineless prickly pear valued for edible fruit and pads.
Care Guide
Water established plants monthly at most; nearly spineless but still rot-prone if overwatered.
Remove or harvest pads at the joint to shape the treelike form; wear gloves against the fine glochids despite the lack of spines.
A light spring feeding boosts fruit and pad production but is optional.
Cochineal scale and, occasionally, the cactus moth; remove infestations early.
Sweet edible fruit (tunas) ripen late summer into fall; frost-tender new growth may need protection below 25°F.
Soil, Feeding & Propagation
Fast-draining decomposed granite or gritty mineral soil; low organic matter
Needs sharp, fast-draining soil.
Low feeder.
Pads root readily after callusing; also seed
12-18 ft
Shallow, non-invasive roots; mostly spineless but keep the fine glochids off decks
Placement Tips
- •Give ample room for the 18 ft spread as a specimen, screen or orchard plant.
- •Largely spineless so pool-friendly, but keep the glochids off decks.
- •Plant in fast-draining soil.
- •Site where the fruit can be harvested.
Features
Best Uses
Companion Plants
Quick Stats
Design Styles
Include in Your Project
Love Indian Fig? Our landscape team sources from wholesale nurseries and can incorporate it into your design.
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Use this care guide to maintain your Indian Fig. Questions about your landscape? Reach out anytime.
Data from 2024 AMWUA “Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert” guide.