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Eastern Prickly Pear about to pop!
(slrpnk.net)
So many flower buds!
This is full sun between a brick wall and concrete pathway. Sandy clay, soil is wet in the winter and turns into pottery during the summer. What was four pads four years ago now covers 6 sq feet! Doesn't get much higher than a foot tall and edible.
Here's some flowers from last June:
Eastern Prickly Pear, Opuntia humifusa, is native to Eastern North America. Best for people who enjoy playing the game operation!
You've convinced me ๐ฉโ๐พ the bees were all over them so there's dozens of future fruits growing. I think these are at least two different species/hybrids given the variance in flower form and coloration. I'll be neat if they taste different, too!
The pads are what I really want to try... the new growth looked so yummy lol. I read they taste like a mix of green beans and okra. Sounds delish.