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Whether you call it Devil's Tongue, Indian Fig or simply Prickly Pear, it is one plant that doesn't get enough recognition for what it brings to the creatures in the wild. It's not altogether evil...
One of my favorite things to do in the sand-hills of northwest Florida, is to wander through the woods, with my trusty, four legged hiking partner as he chases rabbits through the saw palmetto patches just ahead of me. A walk in the woods can bring calm to a world filled with turmoil. It is a pleasant way to spend an afternoon.
Making my way over the tufts of wire grass, around the palmetto patches and under the low hanging limbs of the live oaks, I think, "This is a good day, all is well with the world," or something to that effect. It is then that I feel it, a burning pain on my shin and ankle that is so intense, it brings tears to my eyes. Immediately, I know that I have walked right up against a Prickly Pear Cactus Opuntia humifusa. Devil's Tongue! It is at this point, I realize, how the well deserved nickname came to be.
Prickly Pear Cactus Opuntia humifusa New buds on pads
The fearsome looking spines that are easily seen on the pads of the Prickly Pear Cactus are not the worst of it. Glochids are tiny ‘hairs' on the plant that are very hard to see. These have barbed ends and once they are lodged in your skin they are extremely difficult to get out. You will know that they are there because you'll feel them whenever something touches the area where they are lodged.
Bee on Prickly Pear Cactus Opuntia humifusa
In my family, we have a few ways of dislodging these little devils. Here is a list of the things we use to accomplish this.
° Tweezers ° Magnifying glass ° Good light ° Elmer's Glue ° Duct tape ° Warm, very soapy water ° Rubbing alcohol
1. Remove the larger spines with tweezers, get close to the skin and pull out with steady, even pressure. This will hurt! Also, remove the clustered ‘hairs'. These should be easy to see.
2. Now, you will need the magnifying glass so you can see the little ‘hairs' left behind. Use tweezers to pull them out. Keep in mind, there are usually more than you see right off. These are tough devils to get out, so be patient, it will take some time. (Or, leave the tweezers out of it for now and move on to step 3 or 4)
3. Instead of going right at the ‘hairs' with the tweezers, you can squeeze Elmer's Glue on the area, let it dry for 30-45 minutes and peel it off. It will bring a large portion of the ‘hairs' with it.
4. We've all heard about the miracles of duct tape. Around here, no matter what goes wrong, duct tape will fix it! So, while looking for a way to be rid of these little devils, we decided duct tape was worth a shot. I'm happy to report that it too, works well in removing the ‘hairs'. Cut a piece large enough to cover the affected area, place it directly on the skin, wait at least 30 minutes and peel it off. (You will want to allow the skin to get warm under the tape)
5. Once you feel that you've removed all the ‘hairs', wash the area in warm, very soapy water.
6. I pour rubbing alcohol right over the area after it has been washed.
*These are my tips for dealing with Prickly Pear Cactus barbs, NOT medical advice.
Some people have been known to get infections from these cactus spines. I would suggest seeing a medical doctor if you feel that the irritation, inflamation or pain doesn't subside quick enough for you to feel comfortable about it. After all, you are the only person that can make that call.
Bee on Prickly Pear Cactus Opuntia humifusa
Prickly Pear Cactus Opuntia humifusa
Prickly Pear Cactus is not all bad. It is one of the things that make living in a very hot climate with poor, sandy soil, worth it. The plant itself, if left undisturbed, will grow to around 2' tall and have pads that can reach 6" across. New pads erupt from the larger, older pads. They grow straight up and then fall over to sprawl across the ground.
Prickly Pear Cactus blooms a spectacular yellow blossom from spring till fall. It also produces fruit, called tunas. The fruit tastes like watermelon and can be used to make jelly, among other things. It can also be eaten raw. I have observed gopher tortoises eating the pads. Mourning doves, Bob White quail and Wild Turkey will eat the fruit of the Prickly Pear Cactus.
The Prickly Pear Cactus deserves a second look, an unbiased look. One not colored by the pain of the accidental misstep while walking in the woods.
The next time you happen on one, take a closer look at it. Admire it's beauty, because it is quite beautiful.
Happy Gardening~
All photographs used in this article are my own, taken in northwest Florida.
About Jacqueline Cross
I'm a native Floridian...feet planted in the shifting sands of northwest FL. but my heart strings are tightly knotted to the hills of Tennessee.
I live my poodle, Minnie Pearl, Zsa Zsa the cat who runs the whole show and a new addition, Kitty Belle.
I'm a writer, gardener, quilter, cross stitcher, soapmaker and nature lover. Mother to 3 wonderful daughters & Nana to 6 perfect grandchildren.
I also write for Suite101 and was promoted to Feature Writer in the vegetable gardens section in 2008.
Posted by shawnc12 (from Columbia, SC) on September 3, 2008 at 11:49 PM:
What time of year is good to trim or cut back prickly pear? I have a huge, overgrown one in my yard and would like to cut it back significantly, but I don't want to kill it.
Thanks,
shawnc
...
Posted by libellule (from Fountain, FL) on September 4, 2008 at 12:29 AM:
Hi ShawnC,
In my experience here in FL, you can not kill them. I have chopped them up, cut them down with the mower, & burned them and still they come back. Even digging them out does not work if you don't get every little tee-niney bit of the roots.
I am no expert on them but, I would do it in the late summer or fall giving them plenty of time to 'heal' before a freeze. Also, this will not interfer with the growing period of spring and summer. Seems like if they were pruned back in the spring, they might not bloom and that would just be a shame.
Break the pads off where they join each other. Don't forget to where gloves (that you can throw away), and use old tongs, cardboard or anything else that keeps your hands and the glochids separated!
Also, you can root the pads you take off. Let them dry out for about a week and then stick the cut end into the ground, not too deep, and water daily for a couple/three weeks. It should root within that time frame.
Jackie
...
Subject: A New Bloom
Posted by libellule (from Fountain, FL) on July 9, 2008 at 7:07 PM:
This is a bloom from today on the same plant as most of those in the article. This one is much larger.
...
Subject: How long to bloom?
Posted by wandygirl (from Brookfield, CT) on July 1, 2008 at 4:05 PM:
I live in Connecticut (zone 6a) and am delighted to have pp's in my garden. Winter wetness is a death sentence for hardy cacti, so I have mine growing in a rock garden. I started my prickly pears from pads a couple of years ago, but they have not flowered yet. Does anyone know how long it takes for these guys to flower?
...
Posted by libellule (from Fountain, FL) on July 1, 2008 at 4:57 PM:
wandygirl,
I'm not sure how long it takes them to bloom. I always thought these wild ones bloomed their first year. There are a couple dozen differenet species of the PP cactus. First blooms probably come at different times for the different species.
I did a search just now and didn't find it on any of the sites I looked at, odd.
Does your's get plenty of sun?
Jackie
...
Posted by wandygirl (from Brookfield, CT) on August 12, 2008 at 7:54 PM:
Jackie, it's been while since I looked at the forums. I think you are on the right track, my opuntias might not be getting enough sun. Seems like they get at least 6 hours, but maybe they need more. I'm going to time it tomorrow. Thanks for answering.
Kathy
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Posted by libellule (from Fountain, FL) on August 12, 2008 at 10:14 PM:
No problem, Kathy. Hope you get the blooms from your PP..they are really pretty blooms.
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Subject: Aww oh yes I remember them well!
Posted by patpenney (from Crossville, TN) on June 30, 2008 at 3:57 PM:
A great article. Reminds me how I do not miss the prickly pears.
...
Posted by libellule (from Fountain, FL) on July 1, 2008 at 8:15 AM:
Hey Pat!
As long as you see them first...it's okay. :-)
They do have beautiful blooms.
Jackie
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Subject: Prickly Pear and the woods!
Posted by BesEden (from Bedford, PA) on June 30, 2008 at 10:57 AM:
I had a prickly pear when I lived in Md. I loved the yellow flowers but hated the little hairs that hurt but couldn't be seen. Got some in my garden gloves once and forgot about them until I used the gloves again...ouch! As for the woods! YES!! Love them! I live in the Allegheny Mountains of Pa. on 2 1/2 acres and about a half of that is wooded. The floor of the woods is covered with ferns. So pretty. I had two concerns about going in there. One was poison ivy but I killed that. The other was ticks. I've had two on me so far this year and my husband had one. Fortunately, they weren't deer ticks even though we're overrun with deer (and we have bears and other critters roaming around). It's very nice here and very cold in the winter but my neighbor has some prickly pear that makes it through the snow and ice of the winter just fine! She did ask me if I wanted some of it but upon remembering all the times I got those little hairs in my hands and fingers while in Md. I declined!
...
Posted by libellule (from Fountain, FL) on July 1, 2008 at 8:28 AM:
Your place sounds so nice. I do love seeing ferns like you describe them. I bet it is beautiful.
I remember the tics being bad in TN like that.
Remembering the 'hairs' would be reason enough to decline the offer of a PP. :-)
...
Posted by BesEden (from Bedford, PA) on July 3, 2008 at 8:59 PM:
I was tempted to take the PP because I love the flowers but I've been "bitten" by them too many painful times!!! Now, I just love them safely from a distance!! :O)
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Posted by libellule (from Fountain, FL) on July 3, 2008 at 9:09 PM:
I've got the one by my goldfish pond that I thought I had dug out but it came back up, so I just left it there. It has grown alot in two yrs and blooms like crazy. I really do like the blooms, too.
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Subject: Prickly Pear
Posted by Steve_K (from Cleveland, GA) on June 30, 2008 at 10:26 AM:
I live in N.W. Florida too. I have had hounds step on It and running they would get the spines in their front and back feet. Then they would try to get it out themselves and get it in their mouth and on their nose. I would use my fingers to pull the spines out of the hound. If I got any of it in my hands I just thought that was part of having running dogs.
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Posted by libellule (from Fountain, FL) on July 1, 2008 at 8:30 AM:
Hey Steve,
I didn't think to mention anything about 'coon dogs (or any dog) getting into the PP's. You're right though, they do run right over them.
Jackie
...
Subject: My Prickly Pear
Posted by Jax4ever (from Boxford, MA) on June 27, 2008 at 3:20 PM:
I am thrilled with my Prickly Pear! It's the only true cactus (that I know of) that is hardy in zone 6! Amazing- desert plant in the damp pine woods. Thank you for letting me know that it's supposed to fall over- I though Iwas mistreating it!
DGer Chantell gave me 3 pads of Prickly Pear, and they've taken off, gowing like crazy. One word of caution: when someone ships you a box of Prickly Pear pads, LOOK IN THE BOX BEFORE PUTTING YOUR HAND INSIDE. Um, hot soapy water, tweezers, tape, glue... all are more difficult to use with both hands covered in spines! Yow!!!
...
Posted by libellule (from Fountain, FL) on June 27, 2008 at 5:28 PM:
Jax,
Sounds like in that case, you'd have to enlist the help of a family member. Both hands-Ouch!
Yep, always look in the box first. :-)
...
Posted by Jax4ever (from Boxford, MA) on June 28, 2008 at 12:35 PM:
Any family member of mine would be too busy ROFL!!!
...
Posted by libellule (from Fountain, FL) on June 28, 2008 at 12:52 PM:
LOL
...
Subject: Another Idea for Spines.
Posted by eje812 (from Port Lavaca, TX) on June 27, 2008 at 9:57 AM:
I live in an area with a loamy topsoil but under that heavy clay, and these cactus still thrive. But I do live in thier native range. so anyway here is a way my grandmother would use to get rid of those little cactus spines, Im not 100% on the mixture because i was much younger but it is roughly:
Sugar Wax
-2 cups sugar
-1/4 cup water
-1/4 cup lemon juice
-few strips of cotton fabric
Okay first mix the sugar, water, and juice in a pot and heat until dissolved.
then let the liquid cool so you dont damage yourself
then apply this over the affected area
then place the cotton over this and press down (it hurts like **** but you need to make sure it adheres to the hairs)
then rip the fabric and repeat as necessary
when done rinse off this area with cool or luke warm water or wipe with a damp cloth.
...
Posted by libellule (from Fountain, FL) on June 27, 2008 at 11:13 AM:
Thanks for the tip. Those things hurt so bad, you'll try anything to get them out.
I lived in TX for a 'minute' and the PP's out there are huge! A rancher told me that they burn off the pastures, which burns the spines off the PP's and then the cattle eat the pads. Interesting, I thought.
Jackie
...
Posted by KaperC (from No. San Diego Co., CA) on June 27, 2008 at 11:28 AM:
Long ago our property was two lots. Evidently, someone planted the cactus along the property line, effectively cutting our present lot in two. Thankfully, it's a small portion. They tell us the only way to get rid of it is to dig it up, and that is not guaranteed. Yeah, sure! Find someone who wants that job. It's not pretty cactus, either, very old and covered with those bugs they make red dye from. I worry about falling into it at some point, so this is helpful information.
...
Posted by libellule (from Fountain, FL) on June 27, 2008 at 11:35 AM:
As far as I know, the only way to get rid of it is, in fact. to dig it up. It's hard to get it all out, though.
Once you dig all the big ones out, you can watch for babies coming up and get them while they are small. Eventually, you will get them all. It will just take alot of digging and staying on top of it.
I have one at my pond now that is spreading like mad. I dug it out a couple of times but have let it go for the past two yrs and enjoyed the blooms on it. The gopher (tortoise) sure likes it. He gets right up under it when he comes to the pond for water.
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Posted by bijou36 (from Harlingen, TX) on June 30, 2008 at 3:54 PM:
We're from Northwest Ohio originally where we don't have many native cacti (only one that I can think of), so when we moved to Harlingen Texas we went crazy for cacti! We "stole" one tiny leaf and in less than a year we have a Prickly Pear four feet high and four feet wide. We too have poodles (and one chihuahua), but they have learned to chase critters through the cactus section of the garden very carefully. We love the new critters in the yard as much as the cactus, so we appreciate the cactus for protecting the critters from the dogs-- checks and balances, eh?
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Posted by libellule (from Fountain, FL) on July 1, 2008 at 8:20 AM:
Yep, checks and balances.
I was in such awe over the size of PP's in TX when I was there. The pastures were filled with them..I didn't have a digital camera (or a camera at all) during my stay out there or I would have tons of pics of them. It was beautiful out there.
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Subject: Oh. Thank you!
Posted by gloria125 (from Greensboro, AL) on June 27, 2008 at 9:44 AM:
You know "woods" is not what we normally think of when we think of Florida.
Thank you for this glimpse into a Florida woods.
Walking through the woods- any woods- with a 4 legged friend must be one of the peak experiences of life. There is always something new and very special that the woods has to offer.
...
Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on June 28, 2008 at 12:41 AM:
Ouch! Such a lovely plant, and such agony.
Great article! I agree, I don't think of woods and cacti in Florida.
Thank you.
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Posted by libellule (from Fountain, FL) on June 28, 2008 at 12:45 AM:
I live in the woods. There are alot of woods here but most people think of the beaches and totally flat land with nothing on it but mangrove and cypress swamps.
I live in a dry sandy area with deer, bears, bobcat, and all sorts of other critters.
As far as I know, this is the only native cactus here but then, I haven't actually researched it.
...
Posted by gloria125 (from Greensboro, AL) on June 28, 2008 at 7:05 AM:
libellule: I grew up in the woods myself but it is the maple syrup forest in N. Michigan. It is such a joy to learn about other kinds of woods that people explore with 4 legged friends like I did when I lived at home.
its the one thing that I miss.
thanks,
gloria
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Posted by libellule (from Fountain, FL) on June 28, 2008 at 12:54 PM:
There is no place on earth like being in the woods, anywhere. I don't care much for cities filled with noise, people and tall buildings that block out the sun.
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Posted by gloria125 (from Greensboro, AL) on June 28, 2008 at 1:09 PM:
Hear! Hear! Here! Here!
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Posted by cofieck6 (from Wichita, KS) on June 30, 2008 at 10:45 AM:
I was born and raised in Jacksonville and Tampa Fl. and I never heard of the prickly pear until I moved to Wichita, Ks. in the eary eighties. I noticed them because of the abundant beautiful yellow bloom that I would see in peoples gardens. I was also awed by the fact that the prickly pear is hardy here in Ks. I grow them here in my garden. A neighbor gave me some cuttings and told me to just stick them in the ground. I let them dry out for a few months before I got around to planting them. They rooted and grew quickly. I thin them out every spring so that they will not take over the garden bed. They started blooming the next year and setting fruit. The fruit does not seem to have spines or glochids and they taste very refreshing. I have gotten stuck by my cactus twice and yes, they hurt like crazy, but I still enjoy growing the prickly pear of Kansas. Mine only bloom in the spring. I wish they would bloom from spring to fall like yours. You can also buy the pads fresh or bottled from the grocers. I have also eaten the pricklly pear in a mexican recipe for soup, Yum.
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Posted by libellule (from Fountain, FL) on July 1, 2008 at 8:17 AM:
Isn't it something how something so beautiful can hust so bad? hehe
One of my favorite things to do in the sand-hills of northwest Florida, is to wander through the woods, with my trusty, four legged hiking partner as he chases rabbits through the saw palmetto patches just ahead of me. A walk in the woods can bring calm to a world filled with turmoil. It is a pleasant way to spend an afternoon.
