Prickly Pear Cactus: A Fitting Symbol Of Texas
By U.S. Sen. John Cornyn

Ask for tuna in some parts of Texas and you may not get fish. That’s because the fruit of the prickly pear cactus also is known as tuna. This cactus, with its thorny, rounded pads and reddish purple fruit, has and continues to weave its way through Texas’ history, culture and landscape.

Texas ranks first in cacti. Arizona boasts the towering saguaro cacti, but Texas has more than 100 species and claims more than any other state. At the top of the list, by a resolution of the Texas Legislature, is the prickly pear cactus – the State Plant of Texas.

This fixture along Texas byways and countryside is uncommonly versatile, described as “a vegetable, fruit, and flower all in one.” The 1995 legislative resolution refers to the prickly pear cactus as an “adaptable plant” that can “thrive in a harsh climate that few plants can bear.”

The campaign to highlight the prickly pear cactus dates back more than 100 years ago. A young state legislator, John Nance Garner from Uvalde, urged his colleagues to name its blossom as the State Flower. That honor, of course, went to the bluebonnet. But Garner did not leave this effort empty handed, and his political career moved forward. “Cactus Jack,” as he was called after that, would become the U.S. Vice President under Franklin D. Roosevelt.

The prickly pear cactus flourished long before the first explorers and settlers of European ancestry arrived here. Early Indians in Texas relied on it for nourishment and for other purposes – some of them quite inventive. Water was sometimes carried in large bags made of prickly pear pads encased in a netted frame. Floor coverings and sleeping mats made of prickly pear pads have been found in exploration of caves inhabited by the early Texans.

Texas pioneers and settlers, not dependent on cactus for sustenance, viewed the prickly pear cactus as a nuisance to farm and ranch lands, and also livestock. But even they could not deny its benefits – realizing that the cactus helped their livestock survive during droughts. Furthermore, there is growing awareness of its role in providing food and habitats for quail, deer, javelina and other wildlife.

The prickly pear and other cacti also are an important part of Texas horticulture. Botanical gardens and clubs cultivate and display cacti and succulent plants. They are a popular choice in cactus gardens and are increasingly common in xeriscapes where the prickly pear’s heat tolerance, low water consumption and beautiful blossoms make it a welcome plant.

The cactus has been popular in Texas kitchens for generations. In addition to the tuna, which makes prickly pear jelly and beverages, the flat pad of the cactus – the nopalito – can be used as a substitute for green beans, okra, squash and bell pepper. They are found in such recipes as nopalitos con huevos (scrambled eggs and cactus), nopales rellenos (stuffed cactus paddles), french-fried cactus, grilled cactus pads and cactus salad.

Sanderson, the county seat of Terrell County in the Big Bend region, holds the title of “Cactus Capital of Texas.” The Texas Cactus Council in Benavides, southwest of Corpus Christi, is devoted to “all aspects of the development and production of prickly pear and other cacti.” These include using it for dyes and cosmetics, and promoting its health benefits.

This common sight on our Texas landscape is recognized in a number of ways. The legislature’s resolution described the prickly pear cactus as “rugged, versatile, and uniquely beautiful.” The same could be said about the entire state. That is why the prickly pear is such a fitting symbol of Texas.


Sen. Cornyn serves on the Armed Services, Judiciary and Budget Committees. In addition, he is Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics. He serves as the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee's Immigration, Border Security and Refugees subcommittee and the Armed Services Committee's Airland subcommittee. He served previously as Texas Attorney General, Texas Supreme Court Justice, and Bexar County District Judge.