Species library · Berries & fruit

Foraging Prickly Pear

Opuntia ficus-indica

Typically in season from August to April, peaking around August to October in the northern hemisphere. Found in Disturbed ground, Scrub & hedgerows. Has toxic lookalikes, so check carefully.

Prickly Pear (Opuntia ficus-indica)

Photo: no rights reserved, uploaded by Francesco Cecere · iNaturalist

When Prickly Pear is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak August to October. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and your own timing depends on local weather, so check your town.

→ Everything in season to forage in September

Where it grows

Prickly Pear is usually found in Disturbed ground, Scrub & hedgerows.

⚠ Look-alikes & safety

Similar species: Erect prickly pear, Engelmann's prickly pear, Sweet prickly pear. Only forage with a confident ID.

Take Prickly Pear into the field

Open Prickly Pear in the Forage app for its full field guide entry with more photos, key features and toxic lookalikes to check against. Add it to your watchlist and the app pings you the moment it comes into season at your exact spot, worked out from live weather, elevation and billions of occurrence records.

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Prickly Pear: common questions

When is Prickly Pear in season?

Prickly Pear is generally in season from August to April, with its peak around August to October in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather. Check the Season Finder for your own location.

Where does Prickly Pear grow?

Prickly Pear is usually found in Disturbed ground, Scrub & hedgerows.

Is Prickly Pear safe to forage?

Similar species: Erect prickly pear, Engelmann's prickly pear, Sweet prickly pear. Only forage with a confident ID. Never eat any wild plant, berry, nut or mushroom unless you are completely certain of the identification. Check every find against a reliable field guide, and when in doubt, don't.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits