Natural plant‐based coagulants have gained popularity as sustainable and cost‐effective alternatives to chemical coagulants. In this study, a novel plant‐based coagulant, Opuntia stricta (O. stricta), is evaluated in comparison to alum for the treatment of textile wastewater. Response surface methodology is employed to optimize the treatment variables pH and coagulant dose. Efficacy of coagulants are compared based on removal of total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and color. Coagulants are characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and flocs produced are analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Alum shows a maximum removal of 87%, 75.9%, and 79.6% for TSS, COD, and color, respectively (optimum pH 9; dose: 103 mg L−1). O. stricta gives a maximum removal of 80.2%, 58.4%, and 77.3% for TSS, COD, and color, respectively (optimum pH 10.3; dose: 162.2 mg L−1). The optimum pH of O.
stricta aligns well with actual pH of textile effluent (i.e. 10.6). Among the target pollutants, removal of COD is more dependent on pH as compared to the dose of coagulants. Coagulation agent in cladodes of O. stricta is postulated to be polysaccharides, which acts through adsorption and interparticle bridging mechanism of coagulation.