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Cacti & Succulents

Cactus pears from Chile

13 years ago

Several years ago I was in Santiago and encountered a variety of cactus pears that I've not been able to locate anywhere up here in California. I was wondering if anyone had an idea of what cultivar they may have been growing. The fruit was small to medium in size w/a light green skin and small/nonexistant seeds. The flesh was also green and had a flavor similar to a non-acidic/less sweet kiwi.

Ring a bell to anyone? Alternatively, what opuntias do people like for their fruit? All I see in the markets here in the bay area are the red ones with hard seeds, they don't really call out to me.

Thanks,
r

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Comments (2)

stanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay area
13 years ago
I think those are from a tall native columnar cacti. I saw on "The Desert Speaks" tv show. A Trichocereus sp.
In the bay area Opuntia Ficus indica is fool proof,taste to me like watermelon. In SF,you could grow Dragon Fruit. My neighbor has a huge amount in her Hayward side yard. And I have seen named cultivars for sale at Regans Nursery in Newark/Fremont.
sf_rhino
Original Author
13 years ago
Is that like a San Pedro? I didn't consider it not being an opuntia.

I've seen some dragon fruit growing in Oakland. I'm all indoors so no chance of doing that anytime soon.

Desert Speaks looks like an interesting program. Did you see it on TV out here?

thanks
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