Yes, Long Island has a native cactus! The Prickly Pear Cactus is a mounding, low-growing perennial found closer to the shoreline in sandy patches. Easy to grow, hard to kill, and great for containers, too. Be careful of the tiny hairlike spines when handling! The paddles (nopales) and fruit (tuna) are edible and feature in Mexican cuisine.
Height
1 foot
Spread
1-2 feet
Bloom Season
Early Summer
Mid Summer
Flower Colors
Yellow
Sun Tolerance
Soil Tolerance
Sandy
Dry
Well drained
Features
Reference Links
LINPI resources
QR