Smooth Prickly Pear Cactus
You will definitely find many cactus growing in a Texas landscape. Unfortunately, there are only a few varieties that successfully survive the colder winter climates. The Smooth Prickly Pear Cactus (botanical name: opuntia ellisiana)is cold tolerant between zones 6-10, meaning that it can survive temperatures down to -10 degrees Fahrenheit. Given that, you may still need a way to protect these and other north Texas plants from frost.
The added attraction of the Smooth Prickly Pear Cactus is that it doesn’t have the spikes/spines of a traditional cactus plant. The smooth or spineless quality makes it the perfect desert specimen plant for any garden landscape. Given the growth habit of up to 5 feet in height and 4 feet in width, you will definitely need to allow some room in your garden for the Smooth Prickly Pear Cactus.
The Smooth Prickly Pear is also entirely edible. The pad of the cactus is actually a vegetable, the yellow flowers can be added to any salad and the summer growing fruit can also be consumed.