Life Span
Perennial
Annual and Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Grass
Origin
Mexico
North America, United States, Western United States, Southwestern United States, Mexico
Types
Opuntia ficus-indica
Bouteloua gracilis
Number of Varieties
814
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert
Open Plains, Prairies
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-123-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-5
9 - 5
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21
Habit
Upright/Erect
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
240.00 cm91.44 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
180.00 cm91.44 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Red, Orange
Blue Violet
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Reddish Plum
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Purple, Blue Green, Tan
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Globe shaped
Grass like
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
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
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Summer, Late Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Pollution, Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
Seedlings
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, Medium
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
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
Pruning
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
Aphids, Caterpillars, Cochineal insect, Mealybugs, Nematodes, Red spider mite, Rodent, Root rot, Scale, Slugs, Snails, Thripes, Viruses, Worms
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Pollution
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Aphids, Birds, Rodents
Butterflies, Flying insects
Allergy
-
Anaphylaxis, Asthma, Hay fever, Pollen, Respiratory problems, Runny nose, Watery eyes
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Ground Cover
Beauty Benefits
Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, soil erosion prevension on hill slopes, Wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Hangover
Cuts
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Seeds, Whole plant
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
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
Dried Flower/Everlasting, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
Botanical Name
OPUNTIA ficus-indica
BOUTELOUA gracilis 'Blonde Ambition'
Common Name
Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus
Blonde Ambition Blue Grama Grass, Blue Grama Grass
In Hindi
Opuntia ficus-indica
Blue Grama Grass
In German
Opuntia ficus-indica
Blau Grama Grass
In French
Opuntia ficus-indica
Boutelou gracieux
In Spanish
Opuntia ficus-indica
Azul Grama Grass
In Greek
Φραγκοσυκιά
Μπλε Grama Grass
In Portuguese
Opuntia ficus-indica
Azul Grama Grama
In Polish
Opuntia ficus-indica
Niebieski Grama Trawa
In Latin
Opuntia ficus-indica
Blue Grama Grass
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Lilopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Cyperales
Family
Cactaceae
Poaceae
Genus
Opuntia Mill
Bouteloua
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
Opuntieae
-
Subfamily
Opuntioideae
-
Number of Species
250
1
27800
👆🏻