Prickly Pear

Prickly Pear (Opuntia ficus-indica), also known as the Indian fig or Sabbar, is a plant known by multiple names in Arabic, such as the Indian fig, spiny fig, and Sabbar. It is part of the Cactaceae family and is native to tropical areas, the Mediterranean basin, and subtropical areas. It grows in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

A prickly pear is formed of oblong, pear-shaped paddles that grow atop each other to form a main stem. Prickly pears bear no wooden branches. Rather, it is formed of weight-tolerant, strong pads. Prickly pears are mostly native to Mexico. However, they grow in the Kingdom, where they can be observed in Riyadh farms. This plant is drought- and heat-tolerant. It has a normal growth rate. The plant grows up to three to five m and its pads extend along three to four meters. The plant is evergreen. It produces yellow fruits of a size ranging between six and ten cm.

Prickly pears can grow into trees. Their light yellow flowers bloom in the spring. Upon grafting, flowers turn into egg-like fruits of gradient colors, turning green, yellow, orange, and deep purple when ripe. Pads feature thorns. Hence, spiny varieties are planted around cultivated fields, while non-spiny cultivars are used for fruit production, namely since a thorn is hard to remove upon penetrating the human body. Prickly pears are cultivated by planting a quarter of the pads in soil with good drainage. Rooting these plants is easy. They can also be cultivated by pruning, seeding, or seedling transplant. These plants do not require major care. They can be found in outdoor public areas and rockeries. They are also used for fencing or planted in parks. Prickly pears are considered fruitful wild plants.