Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Epiphyte
Origin
Mexico
Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, Central America, South America, Brazil
Types
Opuntia ficus-indica
Diothonea, Auliza
Number of Varieties
81000
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert
Forests, Subtropical climates, Terrestrial, Tropical regions, Wet lands
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-1211-15
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
H1, H2
Habit
Upright/Erect
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
240.00 cm15.20 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
180.00 cm20.30 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Red, Orange
White, Light Green, Ivory
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Reddish Plum
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Light Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Green, Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Globe shaped
Linear
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Slow
Type of Soil
Loamy, Sandy, Well drained
-
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Early Spring, Fall, Winter, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Cold climate, Humidity
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
Divison, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
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, Requires regular watering, Water more in summer
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Ample Water
In Winter
Average Water
Ample Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
-
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune ocassionally, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, light feeding and water solubles, Water soluble fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Caterpillars, Cochineal insect, Mealybugs, Nematodes, Red spider mite, Rodent, Root rot, Scale, Slugs, Snails, Thripes, Viruses, Worms
Aphids, Leaf spot, Mealybugs, Rust, Spider mites, Viruses, Whiteflies
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Cold climate, Humidity
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
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Aphids, Birds, Rodents
Bees, Insects, Mealybugs, Spider Mites
Allergy
-
Asthma
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beautification, 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
-
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Flowers
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
Air freshner, Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Fruit, Fruit Tree, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
Botanical Name
OPUNTIA ficus-indica
EPIDENDRUM ciliare
Common Name
Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus
Epidendrum, Fringed Star Orchid
In Hindi
Opuntia ficus-indica
Epidendrum
In German
Opuntia ficus-indica
Epidendrum
In French
Opuntia ficus-indica
Epidendrum
In Spanish
Opuntia ficus-indica
Epidendrum
In Greek
Φραγκοσυκιά
Epidendrum
In Portuguese
Opuntia ficus-indica
Epidendrum
In Polish
Opuntia ficus-indica
Epidendrum
In Latin
Opuntia ficus-indica
Epidendrum
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
-
Order
Caryophyllales
Asparagales
Family
Cactaceae
Orchidaceae
Genus
Opuntia Mill
Coilostylis
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
Opuntieae
Epidendreae
Subfamily
Opuntioideae
Epidendroideae
Number of Species
21500
1
27800
👆🏻