Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Cactus or Succulent
Origin
Mexico
Argentina
Types
Opuntia ficus-indica
Cylindropuntia spp.
Number of Varieties
820
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert
Sandy areas, Terrestrial
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-129-11
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
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
240.00 cm30.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
180.00 cm15.20 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Red, Orange
White, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
Reddish Plum
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Green, Olive
Shape
Leaf Shape
Globe shaped
Succulent
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Medium
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
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
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, Do not water frequently, Requires regular 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
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
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
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Aphids, Birds, Rodents
Birds
Allergy
-
Erythema, Swelling
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Landscape Designing, 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
Burns, Gastrointestinal disorders, Urinary tract problems
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Leaves, 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
Employed in herbal medicine, 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
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
OPUNTIA ficus-indica
TEPHROCACTUS articulatus
Common Name
Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus
Cholla
In Hindi
Opuntia ficus-indica
Cholla संयंत्र
In German
Opuntia ficus-indica
Cholla Pflanzen
In French
Opuntia ficus-indica
usine de Cholla
In Spanish
Opuntia ficus-indica
planta de Cholla
In Greek
Φραγκοσυκιά
Cholla φυτών
In Portuguese
Opuntia ficus-indica
planta Salão
In Polish
Opuntia ficus-indica
roślin Hall
In Latin
Opuntia ficus-indica
plant Hall
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Caryophyllales
Family
Cactaceae
Cactaceae
Genus
Opuntia Mill
Tephrocactus
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Tribe
Opuntieae
Cylindropuntieae
Subfamily
Opuntioideae
Opuntioideae
Number of Species
257
1
27800
👆🏻