TEXAS PRICKLY PEAR

Sun or partial shade. Evergreen, with yellow, red or orange flowers generally starting in June, followed by maroon fruits which will keep your mockingbirds busy for months. Prickly pear is a robust accent in a sunny area and makes a great wildlife attractant as well as a burglar bar. It’s also a very easy evergreen shrub to grow; just take a pad from your favorite landmark prickly pear and plant it about 1″ deep in a well-drained pot or directly in the ground. It tolerates sand and rock. Plan on watering 3x the first month to help the roots establish. Give it room; it can be cut back as needed, but it’s better to plan ahead so you won’t have to.