OPUNTIA, better known as the prickly pear, has found an unlikely refuge — in a Pondwell back garden.

Helga Lees, fresh from a waist-deep, and – of course - unplanned dip in her garden pond, pointed to her prickly pear patch in a sheltered spot in another part of her garden.

It came as I had just returned from the Maltese isle of Gozo, where prickly pear continues to flourish — unlike in other parts of Europe and the Americas, where the pest that is the cochineal scale insect is slowly eating away at these cacti, which are so evocative of the hot and dry conditions in which they normally flourish.

By a tree in Helga’s garden, which sucks the moisture from the soil, her prickly pears have survived all the English weather can throw at them, although opuntia are more usually in this country confined to the conservatory.

There are many species of opuntia, but probably the best to grow at home is Opuntia Microdasys, which has the common name of bunny ears.

It only grows to a maximum height of 45cm, or 18ins, and has oval pads with tufts of small, golden spines, which are a hazard to pets — and humans.

To grow, mimic the arid conditions of its homeland, so add extra grit to a John Innes compost and a topdressing of gravel, pebbles or sharp sand.

While all parts of the prickly pear are edible — except the spines — take care with other indoor plants.

l After my column on the 12 plants of Christmas, Georgina Broadhead emailed me.

She said: “A friend almost lost a much-loved cat to eating a small bit of poinsettia recently, plus I know amaryllis, cyclamen, ivy, holly, Christmas rose, mistletoe, fern and chrysanthemums are also all poisonous to cats as well.

“Please make your readers aware.”

Thanks, Georgina.