Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Grass
Origin
Mexico
United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Texas
Types
Opuntia ficus-indica
Virginia water horehound
Number of Varieties
8-
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert
Along Railroads, Barren waste areas, Hill prairies, Mined land, Pastures, Roadsides, Rocky glades, Sandy areas, Upland, Upland clay prairies, Upland sand prairies, Upland sandy savannas, Upland savannas, Upland soils
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-125-8
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-5
9 - 1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
-
Habit
Upright/Erect
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
240.00 cm60.96 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
180.00 cm30.48 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Red, Orange
-
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Reddish Plum
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Orange, Tan, Brown
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Tan, Sandy Brown
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, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Loamy, Sandy, Well drained
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Pollution, Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
Divison, Root Division, 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
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
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
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, 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
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
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
Sometimes
Sometimes
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Aphids, Birds, Rodents
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
-
Pollen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Food for birds, Wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Hangover
Back pain, Diarrhea, Frostbite, Itching, Piles, Sore Eyes, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Root, Seeds, Stem
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
Cattle Fodder, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
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, Wildflower
Botanical Name
OPUNTIA ficus-indica
ANDROPOGON virginicus
Common Name
Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus
Broomsedge, Broomsedge Bluestem
In Hindi
Opuntia ficus-indica
Broomsedge grass
In German
Opuntia ficus-indica
broomsedge Gras
In French
Opuntia ficus-indica
broomsedge herbe
In Spanish
Opuntia ficus-indica
hierba Broomsedge
In Greek
Φραγκοσυκιά
Broomsedge γρασίδι
In Portuguese
Opuntia ficus-indica
Broomsedge grama
In Polish
Opuntia ficus-indica
Broomsedge trawy
In Latin
Opuntia ficus-indica
Broomsedge herba
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Cyperales
Family
Cactaceae
Poaceae
Genus
Opuntia Mill
Andropogon
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
Opuntieae
Andropogoneae
Subfamily
Opuntioideae
Panicoideae
Number of Species
21
1
27800
👆🏻