Opuntia ficus-indica 'Burbank Spineless' – Prickly Pear Cactus Seeds

Seed from the Burbank spineless prickly pear: the big, nearly spine-free Opuntia grown for edible pads (nopales) and sweet fruit (tunas), and historically planted as cattle fodder. Seedlings vary — some will be spineless, some lightly spined — so grow a batch and select the best. Fast, productive and hardy once established.

Germination

Moderate. Opuntia seed has a hard coat; soak 24 hours (or lightly scarify), sow ¼ inch deep in gritty mix, keep warm and moist. Germination is irregular, 2–8 weeks.

What you'll receive

Fresh seed in the pack size you choose, with germination instructions included. The first image is an illustration of the species.

Care

Full sun, any well-drained soil, water in summer; hardy to the low 20s°F. Pads can be harvested once the plant is established.

About this seed

This is one of a small number of species we don't yet produce in quantity ourselves, so the seed is sourced from established US growers we trust, then stored cool and dry here on our farm in Blythe, California and sold fresh. Everything else we sell is grown on site in full desert sun.

Ships within 1 business day, Monday–Friday.