Author Topic: Edible cactus plants  (Read 5830 times)

Luisport

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Edible cactus plants
« on: January 05, 2016, 10:55:51 AM »
All true cactus fruit is safe to eat -- but some taste better than others. Some taste best cooked, and most have to be peeled or otherwise have their spines removed before you put one in your mouth!

And, of course, everyone likes different things. So it's advisable to try some of the cactus you're considering before buying, to make sure you like it and aren't allergic.

Which edible cactus you choose depends on what you want to use it for and what look you want in your edible landscaping.


Many edible cacti belong to one of the 200+ Opuntia species, also known as the nopales, nopalitos, the cactus pear, or the paddle cactus.

The leaves and egg-shaped fruit (or "tunas") of all Opuntia are edible. You can identify Opuntia species by their oval, flat leaves or "paddles", covered with small spines.

The prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) is the most famous and well-loved of the edible cacti.

Also called the Indian fig, their leaves and fruit are very flavorful and are a staple of many dishes in Central America and the southwestern US. This cactus has been introduced into places as varied as Australia, northern Africa, and the Galapagos islands.

Opuntia are quite cold-tolerant (growing as far north as British Columbia) and in some places have become invasive, but they have a lot of uses in edible landscaping (they make excellent barrier hedges), and can make a stunning centerpiece in rock gardens or other drought tolerant landscapes.


Saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea), the elegant symbol of the southwestern US desert, has edible fruit when it's fully mature (which can take decades).

However, the saguaro plant itself is difficult to obtain, and is illegal to move without a permit in many areas.

If you have one growing on your property, congratulations!




The organ pipe cactus or ool (Stenocereus thurberi) resembles a saguaro but is smaller with "arms" that usually grow at the base of the plant, rather than farther up the main trunk.

It has lavender flowers and red fruit known as pitahaya dulce, about the size of a golf ball.

The Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Arizona (US) is full of these, and a visit is a wonderful way to see these lovely cacti in their native environment.




The barrel cactus fruit can be picked and eaten raw, and has no spines, making it the easiest to handle. The flowers and buds are also edible.

One of the legends of the American Wild West was that barrel cacti could be cut open and the pulp squeezed for water that would keep you alive in the deep desert. I've heard that barrel cactus juice doesn't taste very good but is better than dying of thirst!


The vine-like night-blooming cereus (Hylocereus), otherwise known as the "dragonfruit" or pitaya (and also called pitahaya dulce in some areas), is a cactus with long fleshy leaves and bright red or yellow fruit with a white or red center and black, crunchy seeds with high nutritional value. The plant has large, fragrant white flowers that only bloom at night.

Several species are also called "night-bloming cereus", such as Peniocereus greggii.

There are other cactus fruits called pitaya such as from the Peruvian Apple Cactus (Cereus repandus), which looks very different from Hylocereus, but also has sweet, brightly colored edible fruit.

Another group of edible cacti are the Epiphyllum species or orchid cactus, which look and act much like the Hylocereus species, but their fruit isn't as large. These all have stunning flowers! ... http://www.edible-landscape-design.com/cacti-and-succulents.html

Luisport

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Re: Edible cactus plants
« Reply #1 on: January 05, 2016, 11:09:05 AM »
This is a list[1] of edible plants in the family Cactaceae.

Carnegiea gigantea, the Saguaro,
Cereus repandus - California and Florida
genus Corryocactus (also known as Erdisia), the tasty berrylike
C. brevistylis, C. pulquiensis, and C. erectus
Coryphantha
C. robbinsorum and C. recurvata.
genus Echinocereus ("Strawberry Cactus")
E. engelmannii, E. bonkerae, E. boyce-thompsonii
E. enneacanthus, E. cincerascens, E. stramineus
E. dasyacanthus, E. fendleri and E. fasciculatus
E. brandegeei, E. ledingii and E. nicholii
E. engelmannii ("Strawberry Vanilla")
genus Echinopsis
South American species
E. (or T.) atacamensis, E./T. coquimbana and E./T. schickendanzii
genus Epiphyllum, the Orchid cactus
E. anguliger (also called Phyllocactus darrahii, said to be like gooseberries)
genus Epithelantha (the fruit of all species said to be edible)
genus Ferocactus
Ferocactus hamatacanthus
F. histrix ("borrachitos") and F. latispinus ("pochas")
genus Harrisia (of Florida and the Caribbean), the "Prickly Apples"
NOTE: The following 5 are said to be "endangered endemic" :
H. aboriginum, H.simpsonii, H. adscendens, H fragrans and H. eriophora
Argentinian H. balsanae
H. undatus and H. triangularis (aka "Dragon Fruits") - SE Asia and China
genus Mammillaria ("chilitos" as they look like tiny red chili peppers)
M. applanata, M. meiacantha, M. macdougalii, M. lasiacantha
M. grahamii, M. oliviae, M. mainiae, M. microcarpa, M. thornberi and many others
Myrtillocactus geometrizans ("garambulos", taste like less-acid cranberries)

Cultivated prickly pear grown for food
genus Opuntia, the prickly pears
Opuntia ficus-indica
Opuntia matudae
Opuntia fragilis[2]
genus Pachycereus,
Pachycereus pringlei, the Cardon
P. schottii, the Senita and P. weberi, the Candelabro
genus Peniocereus,
Peniocereus greggii, the Arizona Queen of the Night
P. johnstonii and P. serpentinus
genus Pereskia
P. aculeata, the "Barbados gooseberry"
P. guamacho
genus Stenocereus (quite sweet, but prone to ferment; hence the "agria" [="sour"]))
S. fricii ("Pitayo de aguas"), S. griseus ("Pitayo de Mayo"), S. gummosus ("Pitahaya agria"
S. pruinosus ("Pitayo de Octubre"), S. montanus ("Pitaya colorada")
S. queretaroensis ("Pitaya de Queretaro"), S. standleyi ("Pita Marismena"), S. stellatus ("Xoconostle")
S. thurberi ("Organ Pipe Cactus", "Pitayo Dulce") and S. treleasi ("Tunillo") https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_edible_cacti

Luisport

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Re: Edible cactus plants
« Reply #2 on: January 05, 2016, 11:10:21 AM »

Luisport

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Re: Edible cactus plants
« Reply #3 on: January 05, 2016, 11:13:35 AM »
john_p_marmaro(z10 Florida)
Hi there

Many cacti of varying sizes produce edible fruits, many more than just the Opuntias. One of the more commonly planted large cacti in Florida and California is Cereus repandus, which produces large red edible fruit. Several species of Hylocereus, especially H. undatus and H. triangularis, produce edible fruits that have been christened "Dragon Fruits" in SE Asia and China where they have become extremely popular. These cacti, though, are very cold-sensitive and can only be grown well in zone 10. Some very large cacti that produce edible fruit include the Saguaro, Carnegia gigantea, as well as the Cardon, Pachycereus pringlei. Two other species of Pachycereus, P. schottii and P. weberi, known respectively as Senita and Candelabro, also produce edible fruits, those of P. schottii being referred to as "tasty"; these four species are very large. The literature does not say how large the Pachycereus species must be before flowering, but the Saguaros usually have to be quite large and old, say, 30 years and 10 feet or so. The Arizona Queen of the Night, Peniocereus greggii, and some other species of Peniocereus, P. johnstonii and P.serpentinus, also produce edible fruit. Smaller related cacti of the genus Echinocereus are famous for their fruit, a number of species being known as "Strawberry Cactus" because of their strawberry (and sometimes raspberry) flavored red or green fruits. The most notable of these are E. engelmannii, E. bonkerae, E. boyce-thompsonii, E. enneacanthus, E. cincerascens, E. stramineus, E. dasyacanthus, E. fendleri, and E. fasciculatus, as well as lesser known ones like E. brandegeei, E. ledingii, and E. nicholii. E. engelmannii's flavor has been described as "strawberry and vanilla". Among the smaller cacti, a number of species of Mammillaria produce edible fruits known as "chilitos" (they look like tiny red chili peppers) and the species include M, applanata, M. meiacantha, M. macdougalii, M. lasiacantha, M. grahamii, M. oliviae, M. mainiae, M. microcarpa, M. thornberi, and many others; -- a related genus is Epithelantha, the fruit of all species of which is also said to be edible and quite like those of the Mammillarias. Similar too is that of Coryphantha robbinsorum and C. recurvata.

A commonly found cactus in many garden centers is Myrtillocactus geometrizans, which grows quite large; it produces edible berries known as "garambulos" which are said to be quite tasty, rather like less-acid cranberries. Another genus of large cacti is Stenocereus, almost all species of which produce fruits good to eat: They include S. fricii ("Pitayo de aguas"), S. griseus ("Pitayo de Mayo"), S. gummosus ("Pitahaya agria", said to be quite sweet but prone to ferment, hence the "agria" [="sour"]), S. pruinosus ("Pitayo de Octubre"), S. montanus ("Pitaya colorada"), S. queretaroensis ("Pitaya de Queretaro"), S. standleyi ("Pita Marismena"), S. stellatus ("Xoconostle"), S. thurberi "Organ Pipe Cactus", "Pitayo Dulce"), and S. treleasi ("Tunillo"). The genus Harrisia of Florida and the Caribbean also produces edible fruits known as "Prickly Apples", the endangered endemic Florida species H. aboriginum, H.simpsonii, H. adscendens, H fragrans, and H. eriophora standing out, though the fruits of most Harrisia species are edible, including the Argentinian H. balsanae. Some of the barrel cacti such as Ferocactus hamatacanthus, F. histrix ("borrachitos"), and F. latispinus ("pochas") also produce edible fruits, as well as edible flower buds. Many species of South American Corryocactus (also known as Erdisia) produce tasty berrylike fruits, including C. brevistylis, C. pulquiensis, and C. erectus. The large South American complex of Echiopsis/Trichocereus includes a few species with edible fruit also, such as E. (or T.) atacamensis, E./T. coquimbana and E./T. schickendanzii. Epiphyllum, the Orchid cactus, has one such species, E. anguliger (also called Phyllocactus darrahii), the fruits said to be like gooseberries. Also like gooseberries are those of the fairly well-known Pereskia aculeata (hence its common name "Barbados gooseberry"); another Pereskia (which are primitive cacti, and in fact, are leaf-bearing trees or shrubs), P. guamacho, also produces edible fruits.

There are probably many others as well, but these should be enough to go on with!

Sources, besides the net, include Cacti of the Southwest by W. Hubert Earle, and perhaps the finest available book on cacti, The Cactus Family by Edward F. Anderson.

Besides eBay, on which some of these species may be found from time to time, many commercial cactus nurseries carry some of them; most of them may be found at Mesa Garden, though they will be small plants. I have seen large Echinocereus engelmannii or E. stramineus on eBay, as well as large specimens of some of the columnar types listed above. Other recommended nurseries include Arizona Cactus Websales, High Country Gardens, Old Man Cactus, Miles2Go Succulents, Calplants, Cactus Limon and TeeDee Cacti.

Not a lot of info exists about climate zones and such-- pay attention to where the cacti grow naturally. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Cacti by Innes & Glass include light and soil requirements as well as flowering periods, but only occasional references to tenderness.

Hope this is food for thought!

John P Marmaro http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/1801124/what-cacti-produce-edible-fruit-or-are-edible

Luisport

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Re: Edible cactus plants
« Reply #4 on: January 05, 2016, 11:56:27 AM »

nullzero

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Re: Edible cactus plants
« Reply #5 on: January 05, 2016, 12:41:38 PM »
I did a lot of research, there is a big difference in edible and worthy to grow for fruit. Here are some besides the typical ones such as Opuntia sp. and Cereus sp. that may have some great potential to grow for fruit from research;

Corryocactus brevistylus
Escontria chiotilla
Eulychnia acida
Harrisia fragrans
Harrisia pomanensis
Polaskia chichipe
Stenocereus gummosus
Stenocereus stellatus
Stenocereus queretaroensis
Trichocereus peruvianus
Trichocereus validus
Grow mainly fruits, vegetables, and herbs.

Luisport

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Re: Edible cactus plants
« Reply #6 on: January 05, 2016, 12:43:46 PM »
Thank's a lot for your reply! Do you know if there are more worth of grow like mammilaria prolifera? Thank's! ;D

Luisport

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Re: Edible cactus plants
« Reply #7 on: January 05, 2016, 12:44:27 PM »
Cactus are in the Cactus Family (Cactaceae). Be aware that cactus is part of
the common name of some species in the Spurge Family (Euphorbiaceae).

A cactus fruit is a berry, which is defined botanically as a fleshy fruit with
a thin skin derived from a single ovary. Grapes, tomatoes and blueberries are
also true berries.

Berry is misapplied in some common plant names, such as strawberry. The fleshy
part of a strawberry fruit is the receptacle, and the "seeds" on the surface
are the actual fruits termed achenes. Raspberry, mulberry and blackberry are
aggregate fruits derived from numerous ovaries.

I doubt all 1,000 to 2,000 species of cactus have edible fruits or fruits that
would be worth eating. Some cactus species, such as peyote (Lophophora
williamsii) and San Pedro cactus (Trichocereus pachanoi), are notorious for
their hallucinogenic properties. Fruit of such hallucinogenic cactus would be
inedible.

There are several species that do have fruits worth eating including prickly
pear (Opuntia spp.), Cereus spp., organ pipe cactus (Stenocereus spp.),
hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus spp.), barrel cactus (Ferocactus spp.) and
Barbados gooseberry (Pereskia aculeata).

Indian fig (Opuntia Ficus-Indica) is probably the most widely eaten cactus
fruit. http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/2004-03/1079479405.Bt.r.html

stuartdaly88

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Re: Edible cactus plants
« Reply #8 on: June 26, 2018, 02:58:12 PM »
Cactus are in the Cactus Family (Cactaceae). Be aware that cactus is part of
the common name of some species in the Spurge Family (Euphorbiaceae).

A cactus fruit is a berry, which is defined botanically as a fleshy fruit with
a thin skin derived from a single ovary. Grapes, tomatoes and blueberries are
also true berries.

Berry is misapplied in some common plant names, such as strawberry. The fleshy
part of a strawberry fruit is the receptacle, and the "seeds" on the surface
are the actual fruits termed achenes. Raspberry, mulberry and blackberry are
aggregate fruits derived from numerous ovaries.

I doubt all 1,000 to 2,000 species of cactus have edible fruits or fruits that
would be worth eating. Some cactus species, such as peyote (Lophophora
williamsii) and San Pedro cactus (Trichocereus pachanoi), are notorious for
their hallucinogenic properties. Fruit of such hallucinogenic cactus would be
inedible.

There are several species that do have fruits worth eating including prickly
pear (Opuntia spp.), Cereus spp., organ pipe cactus (Stenocereus spp.),
hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus spp.), barrel cactus (Ferocactus spp.) and
Barbados gooseberry (Pereskia aculeata).

Indian fig (Opuntia Ficus-Indica) is probably the most widely eaten cactus
fruit. http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/2004-03/1079479405.Bt.r.html

Old thread but just thought I would add that hallucinogenic cactus fruit are 100% edible and without any of the notorious compounds :)

Peyote fruit is tiny so not worth growing specifically for fruit but it is tasty:)

Fruit is just under 1cm on a grafted loph


I can't wait for my cactus species with larger fruit to try:)
Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.
-Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Mango Stein

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Re: Edible cactus plants
« Reply #9 on: October 18, 2019, 10:44:33 AM »
Calling all oracles of Opuntia, titans of tunas & professors of prickly pear.

I've done a forum search trying to find out whether the skin or peel of Opunitia ficus-indica is edible. Anyone know?

Even though it is waxy, it does not bother me at all once I've removed the glochids.
« Last Edit: October 18, 2019, 03:31:21 PM by Mango Stein »
Eugenia luschnathiana = CURUIRI.    Talisia esculenta = PITOMBA
I do not recommend people deal with Fruit Lovers, Prisca Mariya or Fernando Malpartida

Kada

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Re: Edible cactus plants
« Reply #10 on: October 23, 2019, 01:15:28 PM »
Yes it is edible.  Just remove the spinea and glochids.  It helps to slice the skin a bit in criss cross fashion and cook it tonlet some of the slime escape.

Mango Stein

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Re: Edible cactus plants
« Reply #11 on: October 24, 2019, 12:20:02 PM »
Bought some cactus fruit today. Grown in Italy. Variety name: Bastardone  ::)
Nice cantaloupe flavor but hard seeds. Color not as vibrant as photo has made it out to be.

Eugenia luschnathiana = CURUIRI.    Talisia esculenta = PITOMBA
I do not recommend people deal with Fruit Lovers, Prisca Mariya or Fernando Malpartida

JFranco

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Re: Edible cactus plants
« Reply #12 on: October 23, 2020, 02:42:51 PM »
Hello Luís!

Nice list and nice world of cactaceae. I have only one cactus, supposedly Cereus jamacaru. Which cactuses are you cultivating here in Portugal.

Regards,

João

Luisport

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Re: Edible cactus plants
« Reply #13 on: October 23, 2020, 03:22:41 PM »
Hello Luís!

Nice list and nice world of cactaceae. I have only one cactus, supposedly Cereus jamacaru. Which cactuses are you cultivating here in Portugal.

Regards,

João
Hi! Jamaracu is really great, i don't have it. I have two species that i lost the lable. I hace cereus peruvianus, orange and red prickly pear and pitaya.

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Re: Edible cactus plants
« Reply #14 on: October 23, 2020, 05:24:38 PM »
Great!