Life Span
Perennial
Annual and Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Vegetable, Vines
Origin
Mexico
North America, Mexico, Central America
Types
Opuntia ficus-indica
Winter squash, Field pumpkin, Crookneck pumpkin
Number of Varieties
88
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert
close to waterfalls, Riverbanks, Warmer regions, waterways, Wet ground
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-121-6
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-5
12-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
240.00 cm91.44 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
180.00 cm609.60 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Red, Orange
Yellow
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Reddish Plum
Orange Red, Yellow Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Globe shaped
Heart-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Early Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loamy, Sandy, Well drained
Well drained
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
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
Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season
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
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune ocassionally, Remove dead leaves
prune leaves so as to circulate fresh air, Remove Vines
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Apply 5-10-5 amounts, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Caterpillars, Cochineal insect, Mealybugs, Nematodes, Red spider mite, Rodent, Root rot, Scale, Slugs, Snails, Thripes, Viruses, Worms
Gray leaf blight, Scab
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Salt and Soil Compaction
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
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Aphids, Birds, Rodents
Beetles, Bugs
Allergy
-
Asthma, breathing problems, Itchiness, Swelling in the face
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
Good for skin and hair, Skin cleanser, Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Hangover
Anemia, Antibacterial, anti-cancer, cholesterol-lowering, High blood pressure, Immunity, Prevention of convulsion, Regulates Blood Sugar
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Fruits, Leaves, 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
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Fruit, Fruit Tree, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Vine
Botanical Name
OPUNTIA ficus-indica
CUCURBITA moschata 'Long Island Cheese'
Common Name
Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus
Long Island Cheese Pumpkin, Winter Pumpkin
In Hindi
Opuntia ficus-indica
चीनी कद्दू
In German
Opuntia ficus-indica
chinesisch Kürbis
In French
Opuntia ficus-indica
potiron chinois
In Spanish
Opuntia ficus-indica
calabaza china
In Greek
Φραγκοσυκιά
κινέζικο κολοκύθα
In Portuguese
Opuntia ficus-indica
abóbora chinês
In Polish
Opuntia ficus-indica
Chiński dyni
In Latin
Opuntia ficus-indica
Chinese cucurbita
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Violales
Family
Cactaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Opuntia Mill
Cucurbita
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Opuntieae
Cucurbiteae
Subfamily
Opuntioideae
Cucurbitoideae
Number of Species
29
1
27800
👆🏻