The rose cactus, botanical name Pereskia grandifolia, a spiny, much-branched, deciduous tropical shrub or low-branching small tree, growing 10 - 20 ft. tall in its native habitat of Brazil.  According to one reference, it has edible leaves sometimes gathered from the wild and used locally in the tropics. The plant is also used as a hedge and is commonly grown as an ornamental in gardens, where it is valued for its beautiful rose like flowers and decorative fruits.

The other plant Pereskia bleo was renamed Leuenbergeria bleo more than a decade ago. It is similar but has peachy orange colored flowers.Leuenbergeria bleo and Pereskia grandifolia, commonly known as ‘Jarum Tujuh Bilah’ in Malaysia, belong to the botanical family Cactaceae. Leuenbergeria bleo can be easily confused with Pereskia grandifolia because they are vegetatively similar. However, the leaves, flowers, and spines can easily distinguish them. Leuenbergeria bleo has thinner, corrugated leaves, and orangish-red flowers, with shorter spines compared to Pereskia grandifolia. In contrast, Pereskia grandifolia has thicker, uncorrugated leaves, and pink to purplish-pink flowers, with longer and lesser spines.

Both Leuenbergeria bleo and Pereskia grandifolia have been used as natural remedies.

Courtesy of NYBG Plant Information Service