Prickly pear 10 - 100 - 1000 Seeds Engelmann's Cactus Apple Opuntia engelmannii Kern beavertail

A spreading sometimes to decumbent, short-trunked plant with showy blooms in the spring of orange flowers followed by fat burgundy-purple fruit in the late summer. Delicious fruits taste like figgy strawberries that can be eaten chilled, made into syrup, juice, or candy. 

In Mexico it is considered as economically important as corn and tequila agave.

Can be grown in rows to make a fence. Shrubs or trees can grow to 5' feet. 

Optunia engelmannii is native to North America as opposed to the Optunia ficusi - indica is thought to have originated in Mexico. 

Scarify the hard seed coat then soak seeds for  24+ hours in warm water. Surface sow, covering with only a light layer of soil. Cover pot with transparent plastic for humidity. Place in a warm, sunny location, keep soil moist, but not soaking wet. Remove plastic wrap when seedlings emerge. Cactus seeds are naturally slow to germinate.

also known as : Kern beavertail pricklypear, Trelease's beavertail pricklypear

Heirloom