Spineless Prickly Pear Cactus

Spineless Prickly Pear Cactus

5 Gallon
$79.90
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Spineless Prickly Pear Cactus
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Spineless Prickly Pear Cactus

Opuntia cacanapa 'Ellisiana'

Safe, Spineless Prickly Pear • Edible Fruit & Pads • Fast-Growing Drought-Tolerant Shrub

$79.90
Size

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Bay Area–Based Nursery

We specialize in plants grown and delivered in their original pots and soil.
Because of their size and weight, our plants are not suitable for long-distance shipping and are delivered locally to ensure health and quality.

While delivery is limited to our local service area, we’re happy to support garden design and plant selection remotely.

For local plant professionals, we’re always glad to connect and explore ways to support your customers.

The Spineless Prickly Pear is a revolutionary cactus, offering the classic, architectural form of a prickly pear without the hazardous glochids (tiny, barbed spines). Its large, flat, blue-green pads form an upright, shrubby structure and produce edible, sweet fruits (tunas) and showy flowers. Fast-growing, extremely drought-tolerant, and safe to handle, it's an ideal choice for edible landscaping, xeriscapes, or as a dramatic, low-maintenance barrier plant in warm climates.

  • Prized for being truly spineless or having minimal, easily avoided spines, making it safe for gardens and edible harvests.

  • Produces large, sweet, purple-red edible fruits ("tunas") and beautiful flowers (yellow, orange, or red).

  • A fast-growing, upright, shrub-like cactus that can quickly form an effective screen or hedge.

  • Extremely drought and heat tolerant; requires excellent drainage.

  • Pads are also edible when young (known as "nopales").

  • Perfect for edible gardens, security barriers (dense growth), and low-water landscapes.

Knowing how we measure the size?

Knowing how we measure the size?

When browsing our plants, you may notice size terms such as Gallon, Multi, or Stand. These describe how a plant is grown, containerized, or structured at the time of sale — not just its height. Understanding these terms will help you choose the right plant for your space and expectations.

🌱 Gallon Size (Container Size)

Gallon refers to the size of the nursery container the plant is currently growing in (e.g. 1 Gallon, 5 Gallon, 15 Gallon).

  • A larger gallon size generally means:

    • A more established root system

    • A sturdier plant

    • Faster visual impact after planting

  • Example:

    • 5 Gallon: Ideal for residential gardens, easy to handle, good balance of value and maturity

    • 15 Gallon: More mature, provides quicker results in the landscape

Note: Gallon size does not guarantee a specific height, as growth varies by species.


🌳 Multi (Multi-Trunk / Multi-Branch Form)

Multi indicates the plant has multiple trunks or main stems growing from the base.

  • Commonly used for:

    • Ornamental trees

    • Feature plants

    • Japanese maples, olives, crepe myrtles, etc.

  • Why choose Multi:

    • Fuller, more sculptural appearance

    • Strong visual presence even at younger ages

    • Popular for design-focused landscapes


🌲 Stand (Single-Trunk / Standard Form)

Stand (short for Standard) refers to a single, dominant trunk with a raised or naturally formed canopy.

  • Commonly used for:

    • Shade trees

    • Street trees

    • Orchard and structural plantings

  • Why choose Stand:

    • Clean, classic tree form

    • Easier clearance for walkways and lawns

    • Preferred for long-term structure and uniformity


🌿 Choosing the Right Size

  • If you want instant impact → larger Gallon, Multi form

  • If you want long-term structure → Stand form

  • If you want flexibility and value → mid-size Gallon containers

If you’re unsure which size or form fits your project, our team is happy to help you select the best option based on your space, timeline, and design goals.

Quick facts
  • Features:Flat, oval-shaped blue-green pads (modified stems) without spines. Produces large yellow or purple-red flowers followed by edible, sweet purple-red fruits with small glochids.
  • Mature Height: 3-4 ft
  • Mature Width: 4-6 ft
  • Growth Rate: Fast
  • Light Needs: Full sun
  • Key Advantages:Completely spineless (safe for families),Edible fruits (prickly pears),Drought tolerant,Fast-growing barrier plant
  • Landscape Uses:Xeriscapes,Security hedges,Container gardens,Desert landscapes
  • Special Care:Requires sandy, well-drained soil,Water monthly in summer (deep soak),Protect from frost below 25°F (-4°C)
  • Seasonal Interest:Flowers: Late spring,Fruits: Summer,Pads: Year-round
FAQs

Q: Is it completely safe to touch?
A: Most cultivars sold as "spineless" (like O. ficus-indica or O. ellisianalack the irritating glochids, but may still have a few small, visible spines. Always handle with caution initially. True O. ellisiana is often considered the most reliably spineless.

Q: How do I harvest and eat the fruit and pads?
A: Fruit: Use tongs and a knife. Carefully twist off ripe fruit, then singe or scrub off the tiny glochids on the skin before peeling. Pads ("Nopales"): Wear gloves. Cut young, tender pads. Use a knife to scrape off the small bumps (areoles) that may contain spines, then slice and cook.

Browse online or get recommendations

Shop by collection, or message us with photos and measurements of your space for tailored suggestions.

Place your order & schedule delivery

Choose your trees and preferred delivery window. Most Bay Area orders are delivered within about 10 business days, depending on routing and weather.

We deliver carefully to your property

Our drivers are trained to handle living plants, not just boxes. For many trees, we can set them in place near the planting site.

Grow with our ongoing support

You’ll receive basic care guidelines, and you can always reach out if you’re unsure about watering, fertilizing, or pruning.

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