Eastern prickly pear cactus (Opuntia humifusa) is a cold-hardy cactus native to the Eastern United States. Because it can survive in zones 4 (-30 F), almost anyone can grow prickly pear fruits at home, even if they don’t live in the desert.
We try to grow as many kinds of fruits and vegetables as we can on our plot because our homestead is our garden playground. Our goal is to be able to get all the fruit we need from our permaculture orchard all year, including early (or late)-ripening fruits and hardy storage types like these storage apples.
To grow a variety of plants, you don’t need to live in a warm area; you just need to do your homework and find the right kinds. In this particular case, we’re growing a cold hardy cactus variety that we found from Prarie Moon Nursery.
There aren’t many cactus species that are native to Vermont, but there are some that can handle cold weather and grow well on the East Coast.
Eastern prickly pear cactus grows in dry, sandy areas all over New England. Backyard gardens usually don’t have those kinds of soils, but it’s easy to make a small cactus box so you can grow your own prickly pear fruits even up in the north.
I picked prickly pear from my grandfather’s back yard in the Mojave desert when I was a kid, but that was about it. Now I can’t wait to pick my own northern prickly pear from my cactus garden, which is close to where we planted our asparagus and only a few steps away from where we grew our ramps.
It’s amazing how many things you can grow when you really put your mind to it!
Prickly pear cactus is a popular succulent known for its unique paddle-shaped stems and colorful flowers. While these plants thrive in hot, dry climates, some varieties can survive freezing winter temperatures with proper care. In this article, we’ll discuss how to help your prickly pear make it through the winter.
An Overview of Prickly Pear’s Cold Hardiness
There are over 200 species of prickly pear cactus, and their cold tolerance varies. The hardiest is Opuntia fragilis, which can withstand temperatures down to -50°F! Other cold-tolerant varieties like Opuntia humifusa and Opuntia polyacantha can survive temps as low as -20°F.
If you live in USDA growing zones 7-11 your prickly pear can likely stay outside year-round without issues. In colder zones like 3-6 you’ll need to take steps to protect it in the winter. Tropical varieties won’t survive freezing temps at all and need to be overwintered indoors.
6 Tips to Help Prickly Pear Survive Winter
Here are some tips to improve your prickly pear’s chances of making it through a harsh winter outdoors
1. Choose a Cold-Tolerant Variety
If possible, opt for a prickly pear species known for cold hardiness like O. fragilis, O. humifusa or O. polyacantha. Local nurseries in cold climates may carry winter-hardy varieties. You can also order cold-tolerant prickly pear online.
2. Plant in a Protected Spot
A location sheltered from strong winds and winter sun helps buffer temperature extremes. Plant your prickly pear near a wall, fence or evergreen hedge for protection. Avoid low spots where cold air collects.
3. Improve Drainage
Excess moisture is deadly for prickly pear in winter. Amend clay-heavy soil with gritty materials like sand, gravel or pumice to improve drainage. Or plant in a raised bed. This prevents root rot in wet winter soil.
4. Add an Insulating Mulch
Mulching prickly pear in late fall helps insulate the soil and protect roots. Use 3-4 inches of shredded bark, leaves, straw or other organic mulch. Plastic sheeting also works well. Remove mulch in spring once the worst cold passes.
5. Cover the Plant
For added protection, drape prickly pear with burlap, fabric row cover or an old sheet during freezes. Just avoid any cover touching the cactus pads directly, which can cause rotting. Secure covers so they don’t blow away.
6. Hold Off on Watering
Reduce water starting in fall so tissues can harden off before winter dormancy. Don’t water if temps will be below freezing. Moisture paired with cold causes cell damage.
Overwintering Prickly Pear Indoors
If your prickly pear isn’t winter hardy, overwinter it as a houseplant. In fall, gently remove from soil and inspect for pests. Repot if needed in a cactus mix. Place in sunny south window and water sparingly, just enough to prevent shriveling. Aim for daytime temps of 65-75°F and nights around 50°F.
In spring after the last frost, acclimate cactus to sun and outside temps for a week or two before moving back outside full-time. This prevents temperature shock. Slowly resume normal watering.
Signs of Cold Damage in Prickly Pear
Even with protection, harsh winters can damage prickly pear. Signs include:
- Shriveled, discolored pads
- Wilting, lifeless stems
- Soft, mushy pads indicating rot
- Failure to put out new growth in spring
If the main stem looks firm and green beneath damaged pads, remove dead growth and let the plant recover once warm weather returns. It will likely regrow from the base or undamaged stems.
Preventing Winter Damage in the Future
If your prickly pear struggled with cold weather, reassess your care for next winter. Choosing a sheltered site, mulching generously, and being vigilant with water and covers can make a big difference in helping prickly pear survive winter.
With the right variety and care, even gardeners in cold climates can enjoy prickly pear’s unique beauty through the seasons. These resilient cacti can withstand surprisingly frigid winters when properly hardened off and protected. Give your plant the best shot at survival with the tips above.
Where to Buy Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus
We ordered cactus pads from Prarie Moon Nursery, and they came in the spring around the same time as our bare root strawberry plants. We planted the strawberry plants again to get more strawberries every year. The cactus pads cost about $4 to $5 each, depending on how many you order. I ordered quite a few, assuming I’d not all of them would survive…but they did.
My husband calls them my expensive pet, and they are more or less a pet to me. I watched them all summer, and I would have to pet them if they weren’t so spiky. I’m just so enamored with the fact that I’m growing cactus in zone 4!.
All of them did so well that they’re now taking up too much room, and I need to move many of them to a different box.
They also sell seed packets, though I don’t have experience with those.
Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus Range
The Eastern Prickly Pear comes from the eastern half of North America, all the way up to Canada and down to Florida in the south. It’s not native to Vermont because our soils are usually fine, rich, and wet, and bedrock is close to the surface. That will help keep the water in, and we like to support native plants that like it damp, like highbush cranberry, nannyberry, and wild gooseberry.
Still, you can make the right soil for them with a little work: straight sand that drains well and doesn’t have much organic matter.
