The different parts of this plant have many medicinal potentials. The fleshy inner material of the prickly pear cactus pad can be used to soothe bruises and burns. Studies suggest its flavorful fruits, called tunas, may help with weight loss, promote skin and hair health, improve blood sugar and blood fat levels, and protect the liver. However, the prickly pear cactus may cause minor side effects in some people, including diarrhea, nausea, bloating, and heartburn.

The New Mexico prickly pear cactus thrives in gravelly, rocky, and sandy soils. Its yellow-petaled flowers, with some red coloration at the base, bloom from March through May. With a good deal of local wildlife favoring this plant’s reddish-purple fruits with small spherical seeds, it can be determined that these tunas are safe for animal consumption.