Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Cactus or Succulent, Tree
Origin
Mexico
Southwestern United States, Mexico
Types
Opuntia ficus-indica
-
Number of Varieties
840
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert
Desert, Dry areas, Rocky areas, Sandy areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-126-10
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-5
12-7
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
Habit
Upright/Erect
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
240.00 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
180.00 cm300.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Red, Orange
White, Ivory
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
Reddish Plum
Light Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Olive, Gray 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
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Very Slow
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
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
Leaf Cutting, 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
Allow soil to be completely dry in between waterings, Do not water frequently
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, No fertilizers needed
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Caterpillars, Cochineal insect, Mealybugs, Nematodes, Red spider mite, Rodent, Root rot, Scale, Slugs, Snails, Thripes, Viruses, Worms
Brown Spots, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Dry Conditions, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance, Rocky Soil, Sun
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
-
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Decorating walls
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
-
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 Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Fruit, Fruit Tree, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Feature Plant, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
OPUNTIA ficus-indica
YUCCA brevifolia
Common Name
Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus
yucca palm
tree yucca
palm tree yucca
In Hindi
Opuntia ficus-indica
Joshua Tree
In German
Opuntia ficus-indica
Joshua Tree
In French
Opuntia ficus-indica
Joshua Tree
In Spanish
Opuntia ficus-indica
Árbol de Joshua
In Greek
Φραγκοσυκιά
Joshua Tree
In Portuguese
Opuntia ficus-indica
Joshua Tree
In Polish
Opuntia ficus-indica
Joshua Tree
In Latin
Opuntia ficus-indica
Joshua ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Asparagales
Family
Cactaceae
Agavaceae
Genus
Opuntia Mill
Yucca
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
Opuntieae
-
Subfamily
Opuntioideae
-
Number of Species
250
1
27800
👆🏻