Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Shrub
Origin
Mexico
Melanesia
Types
Opuntia ficus-indica
-
Number of Varieties
812
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert
Subtropical climates, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-1210-15
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
H1, H2, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
240.00 cm240.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
180.00 cm180.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Red, Orange
Red, Green, Copper
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
Reddish Plum
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
White, Yellow, Green, Purple, Orange, Chartreuse, Dark Green, Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Copper, Bronze
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
White, Yellow, Green, Purple, Orange, Chartreuse, Dark Green, Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Copper, Bronze
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
White, Yellow, Green, Purple, Orange, Chartreuse, Dark Green, Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Copper, Bronze
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
White, Yellow, Green, Purple, Orange, Dark Green, Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Copper, Bronze
Shape
Leaf Shape
Globe shaped
Reniform
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, 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
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought, Variety of soil types
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
Stem Cutting
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
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
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
slow-release fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Caterpillars, Cochineal insect, Mealybugs, Nematodes, Red spider mite, Rodent, Root rot, Scale, Slugs, Snails, Thripes, Viruses, Worms
Aphids, Mites, Soft scales
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Variety of soil types
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
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
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Aphids, Birds, Rodents
Birds
Allergy
-
bronchial asthma, Rhinoconjunctivitis
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Hangover
Abdominal Disease, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Cough, Headache, Kidney problems
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Leaves, Twigs
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
Basketary, 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
Bedding Plant, Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
OPUNTIA ficus-indica
ACALYPHA wilkesiana
Common Name
Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus
Copperleaf
In Hindi
Opuntia ficus-indica
Copperleaf
In German
Opuntia ficus-indica
Copperleaf
In French
Opuntia ficus-indica
Copperleaf
In Spanish
Opuntia ficus-indica
copperleaf
In Greek
Φραγκοσυκιά
Copperleaf
In Portuguese
Opuntia ficus-indica
Copperleaf
In Polish
Opuntia ficus-indica
CopperLeaf
In Latin
Opuntia ficus-indica
Copperleaf
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Euphorbiales
Family
Cactaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Genus
Opuntia Mill
Acalypha
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Opuntieae
Acalypheae
Subfamily
Opuntioideae
Acalyphoideae
Number of Species
2462
1
27800
👆🏻