Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Vegetable
Origin
Mexico
Southern Europe, Western Europe, Mediterranean
Types
Opuntia ficus-indica
it is a type of cabbage
Number of Varieties
81
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert
agricultural areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-12-9999
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-5
6-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Rosette/Stemless
Plant Size
Minimum Height
240.00 cm20.30 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
180.00 cm20.30 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Red, Orange
Yellow
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Reddish Plum
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Red, Purple
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Red, Purple, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Red, Purple, Burgundy
Shape
Leaf Shape
Globe shaped
Spinach Type
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Loamy, Sandy, Well drained
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
High
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Does not require lot of watering, Water once every two or three weeks, Water when soil is dry
Do Not over Water, Keep ground moist
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune ocassionally, Remove dead leaves
Requires very little pruning
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize when new
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Caterpillars, Cochineal insect, Mealybugs, Nematodes, Red spider mite, Rodent, Root rot, Scale, Slugs, Snails, Thripes, Viruses, Worms
Alternaria Leaf Spot, Anthracnose, Aphids, Bacterial soft rot, Beet armyworm, Black rot, Blackleg, Cabbage looper, Cabbageworm, Clubroot, Cutworms, Damping-off, Diamondback moth, Downy mildew, Flea Beetles, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Ring spot, Root knot nematode, Slugs, Snails, Thripes, Watery soft rot, White mold, white rust
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Bold
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Aphids, Birds, Rodents
-
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Hangover
Cancer, Detoxifies lever, Glucose
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Leaves
Other Uses
Biomass for fuel, Employed in herbal medicine, Fine spines and trichomes are used as fiber for weaving, Oil is used for aromatherapy, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Culinary use, Used As Food
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Fruit, Fruit Tree, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Bedding Plant, Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Botanical Name
OPUNTIA ficus-indica
BRASSICA oleracea 'Red Express'
Common Name
Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus
Red Cabbage, Red Express Cabbage
In Hindi
Opuntia ficus-indica
लाल पत्ता गोभी
In German
Opuntia ficus-indica
Rotkohl
In French
Opuntia ficus-indica
Chou rouge
In Spanish
Opuntia ficus-indica
Repollo rojo
In Greek
Φραγκοσυκιά
Κόκκινο λάχανο
In Portuguese
Opuntia ficus-indica
Red Cabbage
In Polish
Opuntia ficus-indica
Czerwona kapusta
In Latin
Opuntia ficus-indica
Brassica Rubrum
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Brassicales
Family
Cactaceae
Brassicaceae
Genus
Opuntia Mill
Brassica
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Opuntieae
-
Subfamily
Opuntioideae
-
Number of Species
2400
1
27800
👆🏻