Mediterranean Plants · Cactus The Prickly Pear: A Cactus With a Sea View Found on the cliffs of Tropea in Calabria – here's how this tough Mediterranean classic grows, what you can eat, and how to keep one in a colder climate. Walk along the coast in southern Italy and you will see them everywhere: big, flat, green "paddles" stacked on top of each other, growing out of rocks and dry slopes right above the sea. That's the prickly pear, or Opuntia ficus-indica – called fico d'India in Italy and Kaktusfeige in German. We took these photos in Tropea at the end of October. Even after a long, hot, dry summer, the plants looked healthy and strong. That says a lot about how well this cactus is made for tough conditions – and why it's becoming popular in gardens and on balconies far beyond the Mediterranean. What Is a Prickly Pear? The prickly pear is a cactus originally from Mexico. It arrived in Europe in the 1500s and spread so well around the Medi...
Practical growing guides, plant care tips, and seasonal advice for home gardeners of every experience level, from backyard beginners to seasoned green thumbs.