Life Span
Perennial
Annual or Biennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Vegetable
Origin
Mexico
Mexico, Central America
Types
Opuntia ficus-indica
Mexican potato,Mexican yam bean
Number of Varieties
8-
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert
agricultural areas, Moist Soils, Wet ground
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-129-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-5
12-8
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
240.00 cm300.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
180.00 cm50.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Red, Orange
White, Lavender
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Reddish Plum
Green, Tan
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Globe shaped
Heart-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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
Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Dry soil, Shallow soil
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
From bulbs
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 ground moist
In Summer
Lots of watering
Average Water
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Moderate
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
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
Beetles, Leaf spot, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Shade areas, Shallow soil
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
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Aphids, Birds, Rodents
Butterflies, Mice
Allergy
-
Irritation to stomach, Itchiness
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
Improve skin tone
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Food for animals, Soil protection
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Hangover
Cold, Fever, Inflammation
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Bulbs, Root
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 Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Fruit, Fruit Tree, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
OPUNTIA ficus-indica
PACHYRHIZUS erosus
Common Name
Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus
Mexican Yam bean
In Hindi
Opuntia ficus-indica
Pachyrhizus erosus
In German
Opuntia ficus-indica
Yambohne
In French
Opuntia ficus-indica
Kłębian kątowaty
In Spanish
Opuntia ficus-indica
Pachyrhizus erosus
In Greek
Φραγκοσυκιά
Pachyrhizus erosus
In Portuguese
Opuntia ficus-indica
Pachyrhizus erosus
In Polish
Opuntia ficus-indica
Pachyrhizus erosus
In Latin
Opuntia ficus-indica
Pachyrhizus erosus
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Angiosperms
Class
Magnoliopsida
Eudicotyledones
Order
Caryophyllales
Fabales
Family
Cactaceae
Fabaceae
Genus
Opuntia Mill
Pachyrhizus
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Angiosperms
Tribe
Opuntieae
-
Subfamily
Opuntioideae
-
Number of Species
2100
1
27800
👆🏻