Eltham Indian Fig (Opuntia dillenii): A Sprawling, Coastal Prickly Pear

Opuntia dillenii, known as Eltham Indian Fig, Pakan, or Sweet Prickly Pear, is a large, sprawling, shrubby cactus with oblong, green pads and formidable, long, yellow spines. It thrives in coastal, sandy, and saline conditions, forming impenetrable thickets. It produces yellow to orange flowers and sweet, edible purple fruit. This pantropical species is naturalized worldwide in warm coastal regions.