Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Tree
Origin
Mexico
Central Asia, Eastern Europe, Europe, Nepal, Southern Asia, Southern Europe
Types
Cephalocereus senilis
Myristica fragrans
Number of Varieties
1150
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry areas, Forest margins, gardens, Semi arid regions, Semi desert
Cold Regions, Hills, Hillside
USDA Hardiness Zone
11-159-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
7-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 21, 22, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
Habit
Narrow Upright/Fastigiate
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
460.00 cm1,000.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm1,220.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink
-
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Light Pink
Green, Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
White
Green, Copper
Leaf Color in Summer
White
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
White
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
White
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Funnel shaped
Oval
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
All year
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Very Slow
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Late Spring, Early Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
-
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Vegetative Reproduction
Budding, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Water when soil is dry
Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply, Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
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, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
In Early Autumn, Prune to stimulate growth, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
fertilize in spring, Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Anthracnose, Armillaria mellea, Blight, Caterpillars, Crown gall, Crown rot, fungus, Powdery mildew, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Frost
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Aphids, Bees, Beetles, Caterpillar, Small mammals
Allergy
Skin irritation
Abdominal distension, flushing of face, hallucinations, Headache, Pollen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin and hair
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Absorbs greenhouse gases, Absorbs huge amounts of CO2, Air purification, Amazing growth rate, Erosion control, Food for birds, Food for insects, Forms dense stands, Nesting sites for birds, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shadow Tree, Shelter for wildlife, Windbreak
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Anemia, anti-cancer, Antispasmodic, Asthma, Diarrhea, Healing, Stomach spasms, Thoat infection
Part of Plant Used
Bulbs, Hair
Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Hair is used in making sweaters, Showy Purposes
Making deodorants, Oil is used for aromatherapy, Oil is used in mosquito repellents, Used as a laxative, Used for its medicinal properties, Used for making soaps, Used in biomass
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
Container, Groundcover
Botanical Name
CEPHALOCEREUS senilis
Myristica fragrans
Common Name
Bunny Cactus
White Persian Cat cactus
Nutmeg
In Hindi
ओल्ड मैन कैक्टस
जायफल
In German
Old Man Cactus
Muskatnuss
In French
Old Man Cactus
noix de muscade
In Spanish
Viejo Cactus
nuez moscada
In Greek
Γέρος Cactus
μοσχοκάρυδο
In Portuguese
Old Man Cactus
noz-moscada
In Polish
Stary Cactus
gałka muszkatołowa
In Latin
Senem Cactus
nutmeg
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Magnoliales
Family
Cactaceae
Poaceae
Genus
Cephalocereus
Myristica
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
Pachycereeae
Myrteae
Subfamily
Cactoideae
Myrtoideae
Number of Species
2002
1
27800
👆🏻