Comparing Prickly Pear varieties — notes from growing several

I've grown several varieties within the Prickly Pear family and have some observations to share. extremely long-lived with minimal intervention varies noticeably between them, more than catalogue descriptions suggest. The care fundamentals are shared — protecting from frost below -5°C even for hardy varieties applies across all of them.

root rot from any waterlogging in winter affects some more than others, particularly in adverse conditions. I grow mine in a grouped desert landscape display which works well for most varieties. complete dormancy in winter with no watering is the clearest moment of differentiation between varieties — that's when the character of each comes through. Worth growing a few side by side if you have the space.