🥦 Nopal

Opuntia ficus-indica
vegetables Cactus Cactaceae
Nopal plant photo
☀️ Sun
Full Sun
💧 Water
Very Low
🗺️ Zones
8-11
🧪 Soil pH
6.0-7.5
🪴 Soil Type
Well-draining, sandy, poor
🚿 Drainage
Excellent
📏 Spacing
36-48 in
📐 Height
6-15 ft
Key:🤝 Grows well together❌ Keep apart☀️ Sun needs💧 Water🗺️ Hardiness zone

🤝 Companions (3)

Desert companions for xeriscape gardens
🤝 Prickly Pear
Both edible cacti for arid gardens
Desert architectural companions for xeriscape

⚠️ Keep Apart (3)

Allelopathic - may inhibit growth
Aggressive mint competes for resources
Susceptible to juglone toxicity from walnut trees

📝 Growing Notes

Edible cactus that is a Mexican staple. Young pads (nopales) taste like green beans. Fruit (tunas) are sweet and vibrant. Handle with gloves - tiny glochids are brutal.

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