Opuntia Littoralis
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Plant Details
- Type
- Cactus
- Native Region
- Baja California, Mexico; Northwestern Mexico
- Mature Size
- 5–8 ft tall, 4–6 ft wide
- Growth Rate
- Very fast; one pad may produce up to 20 new pads in its first year
- Where Excelled
- All of California (coastal, desert, forest, valleys, mountains, urban areas) where it does not drop below 14°F. Portions of Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia, Montana, and New Mexico
- Watering
- Very low to High; can be dry-farmed if planted in rainy season or irrigated weekly for higher fruit/pad yield
- Reproduction
- Fruits annually (seeds yield new genetics); pads yield clones of mother plant Sugar Content: Untested (fruit)
- Uses
- Food (flowers, fruits, pads, seeds), Alcohol (wine, spirits, brandy, RTDs), Jams, juices, smoothies, sweeteners, Biofuels (ethanol, hydrogen, methane), Animal forage & silage, Carbon capture & soil bioremediation, Landscaping & nursery trade, Cosmetics (seed oil in skincare & beauty)
- Available Sizes
- 4–8” Pad Mixed Sizes, $3–6 each
- 10 Plants, $60 (+$12 shipping)
- 25 Plants, $125 , + $15 shipping.
- 50 Plants, $200 w free shipping.
- 100 Plants, $300 w free shipping
- 1 Gallon, $8-10, depending on quantities
- 5 Gallon, $18-25, depending on quantities
- 15 Gallon, $35-50, depending on quantities; Unavailable until Spring 2026. Taking pre-orders from nurseries.
- Pest Resistance
- Cochineal: Medium to High (clones less resistant than seeded plants)
- Aphids: Medium
- Mealybugs: Medium
- Powdery mildew: High
- Whitefly: Medium
- Coyotes: Medium
- Rabbits/Jackrabbit: Low
- Rodents (ground squirrel, gopher): Low to Medium
- Deer: High
- Wild pigs/Warthog: High
- Climate Observations
- Hardy to ~14°F; thrives in diverse climates with minimal care
More Photos
Additional Notes:
Diverse Uses of Coastal Prickly Pear
Edible Parts: Flowers, fruits, pads, and seeds are all edible. Fruits can be eaten fresh (spines removed), made into jams, juices, or fermented into wine and spirits. Pads (nopales) are a low-calorie, fiber-rich food that can be cooked fresh or preserved. Seeds can be blended into smoothies, used as salad toppings, or pressed into high-value cosmetic oils.
Nutritional Highlights (fruit per 100g, average):
Calories: 42 · Carbohydrates: 9.9g · Fiber: 3.7g · Sugar: 4.7g · Protein: 0.8g · Vitamin C: 20.9mg · Magnesium: 127mg · Potassium: 226mg · Calcium: 58mg
Nutritional Highlights (pads per 149g, cooked):
Calories: 24 · Protein: 2g · Fiber: 3g · Calcium: 244mg (19% DV) · Magnesium: 70mg (17% DV) · Vitamin C: 8mg (9% DV)
Other Uses: Biofuel (ethanol, hydrogen, methane), animal forage, landscaping, carbon capture, bioremediation, and a growing seed oil industry in cosmetics and skincare. This makes Opuntia littoralis a multifunctional crop with economic, nutritional, and ecological value.