Barbados Gooseberry - unique cactus with leaves and edible fruit, fast-growing vine. It is a tropical treasure that combines beauty with edible delights. Despite being a cactus, it's not your typical prickly plant. Instead, it features climbing woody stems draped in succulent, alternately arranged leaves that can shift in color from green to red, yellow, or purple. In late summer, it delights with clusters of fragrant white flowers that fill your garden with a sweet aroma.
This unique plant produces small, spiny fruits that resemble gooseberries, with a delightful, pleasant flavor. The fruits are edible and can be enjoyed fresh, stewed, or made into jams and jellies. Even the young leaves are edible, making them a nutritious addition to your meals. The fruit is yellow with a juicy, subacid pulp, and has a flavor that closely resembles a gooseberry.
As a vining cactus shrub, the Barbados Gooseberry bears spines in pairs or trios and thrives in conditions that offer some humidity. It prefers good drainage but likes its soil to remain moist during the summer, while being kept drier in the winter. It's propagated by seed or cutting and is perfect for adding both beauty and function to your garden, provided you give it the right care.
