Barbados Gooseberry (Pereskia aculeata): Leafy Cactus Vine with Edible Fruit

Overview

Barbados Gooseberry (Pereskia aculeata) is a unique, leafy cactus vine—one of the few cacti with true, persistent leaves. It scrambles over vegetation with hooked spines. The leaves are simple, ovate, and edible (cooked like spinach). Fragrant, white to pink, rose-like flowers appear in clusters, followed by yellow, edible, gooseberry-like fruit rich in vitamin C. Native to the Caribbean and South America, it's grown for fruit, ornament, and as a security barrier. Fast-growing. Can be invasive in tropics.

Key Features

• Leaves: True, persistent, ovate, edible; 2–4 in.
• Stems: Woody, vine-like; hooked spines.
• Flowers: Fragrant, white/pink, rose-like; clusters.
• Fruit: Yellow, round, edible, tart; high vitamin C.

Care Guidelines

Light

Full sun to part shade.

Water

Regular. More water than desert cacti.

Soil

Rich, well-drained, organic.

Support

Needs trellis, fence, or tree to climb.

Taxonomy

Family:	Cactaceae
Genus:	Pereskia (per-ESS-kee-uh)
Species:	aculeata (ah-kew-lee-AY-tuh)
Synonyms:	Peirescia aculeata, Perescia aculeata, Pereskia acardia, Pereskia undulata, Pereskia pereskia