Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Fruit
Origin
Mexico
Western Asia
Types
Opuntia ficus-indica
Sweet cherry, Black cherry, Virginia bird cherry
Number of Varieties
82
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert
Terrestrial
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-125-8
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-5
10-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
4, 5, 6, 7, 15, 16, 17
Habit
Upright/Erect
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
240.00 cm3,200.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
180.00 cm150.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Red, Orange
-
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Reddish Plum
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
-
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
-
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
-
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Globe shaped
Oblong
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Medium
Type of Soil
Loamy, Sandy, Well drained
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
Budding, Grafting
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
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
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune ocassionally, Remove dead leaves
Prune in winter, Remove branches that rub together, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Caterpillars, Cochineal insect, Mealybugs, Nematodes, Red spider mite, Rodent, Root rot, Scale, Slugs, Snails, Thripes, Viruses, Worms
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
-
Foliage Sheen
Matte
-
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Aphids, Birds, Rodents
Aphids, Birds, Woodpeckers
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
Anti-ageing, Good for skin and hair, Promotes healthy skin, Skin cleanser
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Food for birds, Food for insects, Nesting sites for birds, Shadow Tree, Windbreak
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Hangover
Anemia, anti-cancer, Arthritis, Cardiovascular problems, Migraines, Muscle Pain, Weight loss
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Fruits
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
Food for animals, Food for insects, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Fruit, Fruit Tree, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Edible, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Shade Trees, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier
Botanical Name
OPUNTIA ficus-indica
PRUNUS avium 'Bing'
Common Name
Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus
Bing Cherry, Sweet Cherry
In Hindi
Opuntia ficus-indica
Bing Cherry Tree
In German
Opuntia ficus-indica
Bing Kirschbaum
In French
Opuntia ficus-indica
Bing Cherry Tree
In Spanish
Opuntia ficus-indica
Bing Cherry Tree
In Greek
Φραγκοσυκιά
Bing Cherry Tree
In Portuguese
Opuntia ficus-indica
Cherry Tree Bing
In Polish
Opuntia ficus-indica
Bing Cherry Tree
In Latin
Opuntia ficus-indica
Bing Cherry ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Rosales
Family
Cactaceae
Rosaceae
Genus
Opuntia Mill
Prunus
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Opuntieae
-
Subfamily
Opuntioideae
-
Number of Species
2430
1
27800
👆🏻