Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia humifusa), also known as Indian fig, is the only native cactus found in the northeastern part of North America and is found through New Jersey, New York and the New England states, and even in parts of Eastern Canada.
The green stems of this low-growing perennial cactus are flattened and are formed of segments; barbed bristles are found around the surfaces of the segments. The flowers are yellow to gold in color and are found along the margins of mature segments. The flowers are waxy and sometimes have red centers. They measure 4-6 cm wide and bloom in the late spring.
The juicy and edible red fruits measure from 3-5 cm. As the fruit matures, it changes colour from green to red, and often remains on the cactus until the following spring. There are 6 to 33 small, flat, light-colored seeds in each fruit.
This plant is very intolerant of shade. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil.
The variety name of this cactus is Opuntia compressa var. humifusa.
References
Speciesatrisk.gc.ca entry for Eastern Prickly Pear (http://www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca/search/speciesDetails_e.cfm?SpeciesID=188)
Eastern prickly-pear reproduces from seeds, by layering, and sprouting from detached stem segments and the caudex [19,75,83].
Eastern prickly-pear is easily established from stem cuttings buried to approximately three-fifths of their length [75], and can be artificially propagated using tissue culture [85].
Eastern prickly-pear is susceptible to damage by the cactus bug, a cochineal scale, and several species of cactus borers [25].
Pricklypears are any of a dozen species of cactus, all in genus Opuntia, that grow edible fruit.
Pricklypears usually grow with flat, rounded segments that are amply armed with two kinds of spines: large, fixed spines and small, almost hairlike spines that easily penetrate skin and detach from the plant.
Pricklypears are the only type of cactus normally found in the eastern United States, and are the most cold-tolerant of the cacti.
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