The Traveling Gardener: Arizona
Century Plant with full grown stems in Arizona.
I recently took a trip through the beautiful Southwest and came in close contact with some epic native plants I do not get to see too often. Arizona is home to the glorious Century Plant and the world-famous Prickly Pear Cactus. While both these epic plants can be grown in California and other Southwestern states alike, seeing them in their native land is quite the spectacle. I thought I would share some insight into growing and caring for these beauties with you all.
Century Plant as an ornamental in a residential garden.
Century Plant, or Agave Americana, is one of the two hundred varieties of Agave that grow native in the United States. While many Agave varieties make gorgeous ornamentals, Century Plant stands out as one of the largest in the bunch. Century Plants typically take a minimum of eight years and potentially up to thirty years to bloom. They stand tall up to twelve feet with greenish-blue fleshy leaves up to six feet long. They can grow in Zones 9-11 and require six hours of direct sunlight daily, well-draining soil, and plenty of space to grow. Century Plants are also an excellent choice for low-maintenance and drought-tolerant gardens. You can transplant or install them in spring or summer.
Mature prickly pear cactus with ripe fruit ready for harvesting.
Prickly Pear Cactus, or Opuntia, is quite the iconic Southwestern plant. Prickly Pear is easy to spot with wide flat pads, colorful orb-like fruits, and delicate flowers. Traveling around Arizona, you can find prickly pear edibles abound, including jams, drinks, candies, and snacks. This cactus grows in Zones 9-11, needs well-drained alkaline or neutral soil and full sun. It typically blooms in June and July if adequately maintained. Prickly Pear ranges in size from as small as six inches up to fifteen feet tall. It would be best if you planted seeds in late spring and plant cuttings in spring or summer. When planting cuttings, make sure to wear gloves and long sleeves to protect your skin. Plant them shallowly in the soil to avoid any potential damage or root rot. As for harvesting, you can remove the pads any time of year; however, there are a couple of rules to follow:
- Do not remove more than one-third of the pads from the plant.
- Harvest them mid-morning for the best flavor
- Use gloves and tongs to scrape and remove all traces of spines before eating (this last step goes for both the pads and fruits.)
A freshly harvested basket of prickly pear fruit.
Pads and fruits can be eaten raw or cooked. Fruits are ripe when the glochids (bristles) fall off, typically in early fall. When mature, you can gently twist the fruits from the pads, making sure not to pull them off, which could damage them.
While you will come across many other gorgeous plants native to Arizona, these two stand out as two of the most iconic plants of the Southwest.