Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Tree
Origin
Mexico
-
Types
Opuntia ficus-indica
-
Number of Varieties
812
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert
All sorts of environments
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-127-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-5
9-6
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Twisted/Contorted
Plant Size
Minimum Height
240.00 cm460.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
180.00 cm240.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Red, Orange
White
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Reddish Plum
Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Globe shaped
Oval
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Slow
Type of Soil
Loamy, Sandy, Well drained
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Spring, Late Spring, Fall, Late Fall, Early Winter
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
Budding, Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Does not require lot of watering, Water once every two or three weeks, Water when soil is dry
Allow to dry out slightly between watering, Average Water Needs
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
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune ocassionally, Remove dead leaves
Cut leaves after fall, Cut upper 1/3 section when young to enhancegrowth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Compost, fertilize in growing season
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Caterpillars, Cochineal insect, Mealybugs, Nematodes, Red spider mite, Rodent, Root rot, Scale, Slugs, Snails, Thripes, Viruses, Worms
Aphids, Bacteria wilt, Fungal Diseases, Rats, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Dry soil, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shallow soil
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
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Aphids, Birds, Rodents
Birds
Allergy
-
allergic conjunctivitis, Itchy eyes, Respiratory problems
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beautification, Hanging Basket, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
Beautiful Skin, Good for the Scalp, Moisturizing, Remove blemishes
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Absorbs greenhouse gases, Food for animals, Insect Repellent, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shadow Tree
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Hangover
Acne, Dysentry, Nutritive, osteoporosis
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Flowers, Fruits, 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
Animal Feed, Application in Handicrafts, Biomass for fuel, Oil is used for aromatherapy
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Fruit, Fruit Tree, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Feature Plant, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
OPUNTIA ficus-indica
Arbutus menziesii
Common Name
Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus
Arbutus
In Hindi
Opuntia ficus-indica
सदाबहार
In German
Opuntia ficus-indica
Erdbeerbaum
In French
Opuntia ficus-indica
arbousier
In Spanish
Opuntia ficus-indica
Arbitus
In Greek
Φραγκοσυκιά
κουμαριά
In Portuguese
Opuntia ficus-indica
árbuto
In Polish
Opuntia ficus-indica
mącznik
In Latin
Opuntia ficus-indica
arbutus
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
-
Order
Caryophyllales
Ericales
Family
Cactaceae
Ericaceae
Genus
Opuntia Mill
Arbutus
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Opuntieae
-
Subfamily
Opuntioideae
Arbutoideae
Number of Species
28
1
27800
👆🏻