I didn't want to be a plant snob. So I told myself I at least appreciated some merits of the homely cactus. The prickly pear, after all, is a role model for water conservation. The flowers are pretty ...

Question: I recently bought my first home in Santa Rosa. The backyard has a prickly pear cactus that’s about 6 feet tall. Since it’s the first time I’ve owned one, can you share information about it ...

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Ever walked past a cactus with broad, flat, ovoid pads with colorful spiky balls growing from them? You just walked past a source of food.

This succulent can add a little southwest flare to almost any home or garden. Although many varieties have glochids, which are the needle-like spines that can cause an allergic skin reaction for some, ...

Walnut Creek’s Ruth Bancroft is a national authority on drought-resistant gardening. Twice a month, she and her staff share their knowledge with readers. Q We have a large, old (probably about 40 ...

The other commonly eaten part of the nopal cactus is the prickly pear fruit, which grows along the sides of the cactus pads. The pear-shaped fruits vary in color from green to yellow, orange, red, and ...

Learn how to propagate a prickly pear cactus in your own yard. Over the centuries–in the course of adapting to harsh soil and climatic conditions–prickly pears (Opuntia) have developed the ability to ...

Question: I see menu items at Arizona restaurants toting "prickly pear" in some items such as jelly, margaritas and other drinks. Is this just a flavor that they are adding, or is it from the actual ...

Texas can be a tough state to live in. As you know, Texas has droughts in the south, floods in the east, tornadoes in the north, and scorching heat in the west. It takes a pretty tough plant to thrive ...