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Products > Opuntia ficus-indica 'Gray Form'   Opuntia ficus-indica 'Gray Form' - Nopal Note: This plant is not currently for sale. This is an archive page preserved for informational use.   [2nd Image] Habit and Cultural Information Category: Succulent Family: Cactaceae (Cactus) Origin: Mexico (North America) Evergreen: Yes Flower Color: Yellow Bloomtime: Summer Height: 3-4 feet Width: 6-8 feet Exposure: Full Sun Seaside: Yes Summer Dry: Yes Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs Winter Hardiness: 0-10° F Opuntia ficus-indica 'Gray Form' (Nopal) - A variety of shrubby cactus that grows to 6-10 feet tall with branches bearing many oblong 1 1/2 foot long bluish-green thick pads. In spring and early summer appear the 4 inch orange-yellow flowers along the edges at the tips of the pads. The flowers produce edible pear-shaped fleshy reddish-purple fruits (tunas) whose taste has been likened to watermelon. The pads are cooked and eaten as well and called "nopales" or "nopalitos". Plant in full sun. This is a very drought tolerant plant and is hardy to below 20° F. The native habitat for this Opuntia is not known and as it has been in cultivation for many years it is now found in locations all over the world. From seed received from South America Luther Burbank grew and hybridized Opuntia in the early part of the 1900s for use as cattle fodder. Unfortunately cattle did not find it palatable but the plant has remained in cultivation as an ornamental and for human consumption. We grew this plant from 2003 until 2008.  The information on this page is based on the research that we have conducted about this plant in the San Marcos Growers library, from what we have found on reliable online sources, as well as from observations made of our crops of this plant growing in the nursery and of plants growing in the nursery's garden and those in other gardens where we may have observed it. We also have incorporated comments received from others and welcome getting feedback from those who may have additional information, particularly if this information includes cultural information that would aid others in growing Opuntia ficus-indica 'Gray Form'.     [MORE INFO]