Cochineal plant.
Nopalea cochenillifera

Family: Cactaceae

What it is like

Nopalea cochenillifera is an evergreen Shrub growing to 5 m (16ft) by 5 m (16ft) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay and nutritionally poor soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid, very alkaline and saline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 5

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It needs good sunlight. It needs a temperature above 13°C. It can grow in arid places. Hammocks, fields, sandy soils.

Mesoamerica. Central America - Mexico, Panama. Caribbean - Cuba, Puerto Rica.

Conservation Status: Status: Data Deficient

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Central America*, Costa Rica, Cuba, East Africa, Fiji, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Jamaica, Lesser Antilles, Marquesas, Mexico, Nigeria, North America, Pacific, Philippines, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South America, Tanzania, USA, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia

How it is used

Food

Rating: 2

Edible Portion: Fruit, Stems (pads). The fruits are edible. They are also made into candies. The pads can be eaten after the spines are removed. Young joints are pickled. The red, ellipsoid fruit is 3 to 5cm long by 2.5 to 3 cm wide. The young flattened stems are cooked and eaten as a vegetable.

Stem: this often intergrades into leaves.

Medicine

Rating: 2

The fruits and cladodes are applied in folk medicine. The flattened stem sections are used as poultices to treat mycoses (fungal skin infections) and fevers. The roasted branches are sliced and applied as a poultice to relieve pain, swelling, and localized burning sensations resulting from filaria. The grated stem, mixed with corn meal and soft grease, is warmed for external application to relieve heavy chest colds and fever associated with pneumonia. The pads are warmed and placed on the forehead as a refresher. The sap of the plant is used in the treatment of baby's colds and wheezing. The leaves are used in the treatment of spleen problems.

Other

Rating: 3

Agroforestry Uses: The plant is an important hedge plant in arid areas. Other Uses: The flattened stem sections are used as a shampoo for fine, delicate hair. It is also a host for the chocineal insect which produces a red dye colouring for food and drinks. Carbon Farming - Agroforestry Services: living fence. Fodder: bank, insect.

Fodder: Food given to the animals (including plants cut and carried to them) rather than forage for themselves.

Agroforestry Services: Living fence: Simply managed rows of shrubs and trees.

Fodder: Bank: Fodder banks are plantings of high-quality fodder species. Their goal is to maintain healthy productive animals. They can be utilized all year, but are designed to bridge the forage scarcity of annual dry seasons. Fodder bank plants are usually trees or shrubs, and often legumes. The relatively deep roots of these woody perennials allow them to reach soil nutrients and moisture not available to grasses and herbaceous plants.

Fodder: Insect: Plants grown for useful fodder insects.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Agroforestry Services: Living fence: Simply managed rows of shrubs and trees.

Fodder: Bank: Fodder banks are plantings of high-quality fodder species. Their goal is to maintain healthy productive animals. They can be utilized all year, but are designed to bridge the forage scarcity of annual dry seasons. Fodder bank plants are usually trees or shrubs, and often legumes. The relatively deep roots of these woody perennials allow them to reach soil nutrients and moisture not available to grasses and herbaceous plants.

Fodder: Insect: Plants grown for useful fodder insects.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

How it is grown

Nopalea cochenillifera is a shrubby or treelike cactus. Climate: tropical, tropical highlands. Humidity: arid to semi-arid. A plant of arid and semi-arid areas in the tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,500 metres, sometimes higher. Requires a sunny position. Thriving on neglect, the plant can tolerate almost any conditions so long as the soil is well-drained. Established plants are very drought tolerant. Carbon Farming - Cultivation: regional crop.

Propagating it: Plants can be grown from cuttings. Seed. Prickly pear is easily propagated and the tiniest bit of leaf will take root almost anywhere.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Shrub

Hardiness: 9-11

Growth: Slow

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

Species in this genus generally have numerous minutely barbed glochids (hairs) that are easily dislodged when the plant is touched and they then become stuck to the skin where they are difficult to see and remove. They can cause considerable discomfort.

Yes

Its other names

Local names

Kaktus nopales, Nagphani, Nopales, Prickly pear, Puchikalli, Tay-cui, True Nopal

Synonyms

Cactus cochenillifer L.; Nopalea coccifera Lem.; Opuntia cochenillifera (L.) Mill.;