Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Aquatics
Cactus or Succulent
Origin
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Canada
Mexico
Types
-
Opuntia ficus-indica
Number of Varieties
18
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Moist Soils, Terrestrial, Upland, Wet lands
Desert
USDA Hardiness Zone
3-118-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
11-1
12-5
Sunset Zone
21,22
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Thicket/Colonizing
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.00 cm240.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm180.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White
Yellow, Red, Orange
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
Brownish Red
Reddish Plum
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
Globe shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam
Loamy, Sandy, Well drained
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Summer
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
From Rhizomes, Root Division
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Needs Very high moisture
Does not require lot of watering, Water once every two or three weeks, Water when soil is dry
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune ocassionally, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
bees
Aphids, Caterpillars, Cochineal insect, Mealybugs, Nematodes, Red spider mite, Rodent, Root rot, Scale, Slugs, Snails, Thripes, Viruses, Worms
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
Medium
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
Sometimes
Sometimes
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flies
Aphids, Birds, Rodents
Allergy
allergic reaction, Pollen
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Bog Garden, Showy Purposes, Water gardening, Wild gardens
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Insect Bites, Treating fever
Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Hangover
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves, Root
Flowers, Leaves
Other Uses
Grown in botanical gardens as a specimen, Used as Ornamental plant
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
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Water Gardens, Wildflower
Container, Feature Plant, Fruit, Fruit Tree, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
SAURURUS cernuus
OPUNTIA ficus-indica
Common Name
Lizard's Tail
Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus
In Hindi
Saururus cernuus
Opuntia ficus-indica
In German
Saururus cernuus
Opuntia ficus-indica
In French
Saururus cernuus
Opuntia ficus-indica
In Spanish
cernuus Saururus
Opuntia ficus-indica
In Greek
Saururus cernuus
Φραγκοσυκιά
In Portuguese
Saururus cernuus
Opuntia ficus-indica
In Polish
Saururus cernuus
Opuntia ficus-indica
In Latin
Saururi cernuus
Opuntia ficus-indica
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Piperales
Caryophyllales
Family
Saururaceae
Cactaceae
Genus
Saururus
Opuntia Mill
Clade
Angiosperms, Magnoliids
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Opuntieae
Subfamily
-
Opuntioideae
Number of Species
12
1
27800
👆🏻