Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Cactus or Succulent
Origin
Mexico
Southern Africa
Types
Opuntia ficus-indica
Gasteria brachyphylla, Gasteria rawlinsonii
Number of Varieties
816
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert
Deciduous forests, River side, rocky banks of streams
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-12-9999
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-5
-
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
13, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Rosette/Stemless
Plant Size
Minimum Height
240.00 cm12.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
180.00 cm10.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Red, Orange
Coral
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
Reddish Plum
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
-
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Green, Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Globe shaped
Tongue shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Bright direct sunlight, Partial 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
-
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought, Dry soil
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
Leaf Cutting, 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
Do Not over Water
In Summer
Lots of watering
Less 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
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune ocassionally, Remove dead leaves
Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Doesn't require fertilization when grown in rich soil
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Caterpillars, Cochineal insect, Mealybugs, Nematodes, Red spider mite, Rodent, Root rot, Scale, Slugs, Snails, Thripes, Viruses, Worms
Fusarium root rot, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Heat And 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
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
-
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Aphids, Birds, Rodents
Ants, Flies
Allergy
-
Irritation to intestines, Skin rash
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
For treating wrinkles, Good for the Scalp
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Hangover
Aging, Blood disorders, Laxative
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Leaves, Sap
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
Can be made into a herbal tea, Making Shampoo, Oil is used in mosquito repellents
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
GASTERIA
Common Name
Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus
Gasteria
In Hindi
Opuntia ficus-indica
Gasteria
In German
Opuntia ficus-indica
Gasteria
In French
Opuntia ficus-indica
Gasteria
In Spanish
Opuntia ficus-indica
Gasteria
In Greek
Φραγκοσυκιά
Gasteria
In Portuguese
Opuntia ficus-indica
Gasteria
In Polish
Opuntia ficus-indica
Gasteria
In Latin
Opuntia ficus-indica
Gasteria
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
-
Class
Magnoliopsida
Monocots
Order
Caryophyllales
Asparagales
Family
Cactaceae
Aloaceae
Genus
Opuntia Mill
Gasteria
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
Opuntieae
-
Subfamily
Opuntioideae
Asphodeloideae
Number of Species
216
1
27800
👆🏻