Overrated for ease, underrated for beauty — Prickly Pear

People describe Prickly Pear as easy and I'd push back on that slightly. using pure mineral grit for drainage in the soil mix needs consistent attention and slow growth frustration for impatient growers can undermine progress quickly if ignored.

Where Prickly Pear is genuinely underrated is the beauty. extremely long-lived with minimal intervention is extraordinary when you see it in person. I display it in a grouped desert landscape display and it gets comments from everyone who sees it. flowering in late spring to early summer is the time to really understand what this plant offers. Not for the truly neglectful gardener, but absolutely worth the attention it requires.