Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Tree
Origin
Mexico
Southeastern Asia, Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia
Types
Opuntia ficus-indica
-
Number of Varieties
8-
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert
Subtropical climates, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-1210-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-5
12-9
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H2, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
240.00 cm1,370.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
180.00 cm1,520.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Red, Orange
White
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Reddish Plum
Light Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Globe shaped
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Very 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
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Wet Site, Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
Seedlings, Stem Planting
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, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires a lot of watering
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
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
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, Butterflies
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Hangover
constipation, Diarrhea, Digestive disorders, Dysentry, Fever, Tooth ache
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Fruits, Seeds
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
Making Shampoo, Making Sweet Scented Oil, 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
Mixed Border, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
Botanical Name
OPUNTIA ficus-indica
ALEURITES moluccanus
Common Name
Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus
Candleberry, Candlenut, Kukui
In Hindi
Opuntia ficus-indica
candlenut पेड़
In German
Opuntia ficus-indica
Candlenut Baum
In French
Opuntia ficus-indica
arbre Candlenut
In Spanish
Opuntia ficus-indica
árbol candlenut
In Greek
Φραγκοσυκιά
candlenut δέντρο
In Portuguese
Opuntia ficus-indica
candlenut árvore
In Polish
Opuntia ficus-indica
Tung Molukański drzewo
In Latin
Opuntia ficus-indica
Candlenut ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Spermatophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Dicotyledonae
Order
Caryophyllales
Malpighiales
Family
Cactaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Genus
Opuntia Mill
Aleurites
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Opuntieae
Aleuritideae
Subfamily
Opuntioideae
Crotonoideae
Number of Species
2600
1
27800
👆🏻