Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Cactus or Succulent
  
Cactus
  
Origin
Mexico
  
Southern Africa
  
Types
Not Available
  
Firesticks, Old Man's Beard
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Desert
  
Desert, Hilly upland habitat, Semi desert
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-12
  
10-13
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-5
  
12-10
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
H1, H2, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Upright/Erect
  
Upright/Erect
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Yellow, Red, Orange
  
Yellow
  
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Fruit Color
Reddish Plum
  
Red, Red orange
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
  
Light Green, Yellow green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
  
Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
  
Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
  
Red, Light Green, Orange Red
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Globe shaped
  
Tiny
  
Thorns
Yes
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, 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
  
Late Spring, Early Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
  
Pollution, Drought, Salt
  
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
  
Container, Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
  
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings, 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
  
Needs good drainage, Water less during winter, Water more in summer
  
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, 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
  
Not Available, Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Insignificant
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Not Available
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Bold
  
Bold
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Sometimes
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
No
  
Attracts
Aphids, Birds, Rodents
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
Eye irritation, Numb Lips
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
  
Mixed Border, Ornamental use, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Hangover
  
Antiasthamatic, anti-cancer, Antitumor, Cough, Ear ache
  
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
  
Branch, Latex, 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 firewood, Used as Ornamental plant
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Fruit, Fruit Tree, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
  
Container, Feature Plant, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
OPUNTIA ficus-indica
  
EUPHORBIA tirucalli
  
Common Name
Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus
  
aveloz, firestick plants, Indian tree spurge, naked lady, pencil tree, pencil cactus, sticks on fire, milk bush, Euphorbia tirucalli
  
In Hindi
Opuntia ficus-indica
  
Sher-kandvel
  
In German
Opuntia ficus-indica
  
Bleistiftstrauch
  
In French
Opuntia ficus-indica
  
Aveloz
  
In Spanish
Opuntia ficus-indica
  
Pencil Plant
  
In Greek
Φραγκοσυκιά
  
Aveloz
  
In Portuguese
Opuntia ficus-indica
  
avelós
  
In Polish
Opuntia ficus-indica
  
Aveloz
  
In Latin
Opuntia ficus-indica
  
Aveloz
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Tracheophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Caryophyllales
  
Euphorbiales
  
Family
Cactaceae
  
Euphorbiaceae
  
Genus
Opuntia Mill
  
Euphorbia
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Tribe
Opuntieae
  
Euphorbieae
  
Subfamily
Opuntioideae
  
Euphorbioideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available