NOPALES 'Variegated Opuntia' --Nopalea cochenillifera 'Variegata'--

Pretty delicate cactus, pale green to yellow with dark green fireworks-like bursts around each small spine. Nopales are heavily cultivated throughout Central America as a vegetable, and with historical medicinal usage to reduce inflammation and are loaded with potassium, magnesium, calcium, manganese, copper, zinc and iron, as well as thiamine, lutein, niacin, riboflavin and beta-carotene. Also called Cochineal cactus, was used as a host for the Cochineal insect that provided a brilliant red coloring used in cosmetics and fabric dyes. Paddles are small and thin, 3-4" long. Flowers are pollinated by hummingbirds, and the red fruit can be harvested and eaten raw or made into beverages. Scrape or burn the small spine clusters off the paddles and cook like okra or squash - second image shows pre-cooking prepped paddles. Great addition to tacos, soups, etc. Suitable for container, water sparingly and plant in very well draining soil.