Cactus fence

A cactus fence is a hedge or fence made of closely spaced cactus plants, sometimes with barbed wire or wood interwoven with the cacti.

Acanthocereus tetragonus, laid out as a "living fence", rural area, Cuba

A cactus fence in Bonaire.

A cactus fence in Mexico.

Purpose

Such fences are inexpensive to develop in regions where cacti are common, and can provide an extreme deterrent to any but a determined human intruder. Often their primary function is to keep wandering large animals off a private property.

Design

Sometimes, cacti are used as barriers without being formed into a structured fence. Prickly pears (mostly Opuntia stricta) were imported into Australia in the 19th century for use as a natural agricultural fence and to establish a cochineal dye industry, but quickly became a widespread weed.

In the American southwest, ocotillo stems are often set in the ground to form a structure similar to a cactus fence.

References

• The cactus family, 2001, Edward F. Anderson, pp. 68–9.