Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Tree
Origin
Mexico
North America, United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, Western United States, Northwestern United States, Alaska, Canada
Types
Opuntia ficus-indica
-
Number of Varieties
82
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert
Forest margins, Thickets
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-124-7
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-5
8-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6
Habit
Upright/Erect
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
240.00 cm370.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
180.00 cm430.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Red, Orange
Ivory
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Reddish Plum
Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Yellow, Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Globe shaped
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Loamy, Sandy, Well drained
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Late Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
-
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
Divison, Seedlings, Transplanting
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
Do Not over Water, Keep ground moist
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full 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
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, for fruiting plants, use high phosphorous content fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Caterpillars, Cochineal insect, Mealybugs, Nematodes, Red spider mite, Rodent, Root rot, Scale, Slugs, Snails, Thripes, Viruses, Worms
Bacterial leaf spot, Cane Spot, fungus, Powdery mildew, Viruses
Plant Tolerance
Drought
-
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
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
Sometimes
Sometimes
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Aphids, Birds, Rodents
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Food for birds, soil erosion prevension on hill slopes, soil stabilisation
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Hangover
Cold, Fever
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Whole plant
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 Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Fruit, Fruit Tree, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Screening / Wind Break
Botanical Name
OPUNTIA ficus-indica
Sambucus racemosa
Common Name
Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus
Red Elderberry, Red-berried Elderberry
In Hindi
Opuntia ficus-indica
Red Elderberry
In German
Opuntia ficus-indica
Rote Holunder
In French
Opuntia ficus-indica
Red sureau
In Spanish
Opuntia ficus-indica
La baya del saúco roja
In Greek
Φραγκοσυκιά
κόκκινο Elderberry
In Portuguese
Opuntia ficus-indica
Red Elderberry
In Polish
Opuntia ficus-indica
Red Elderberry
In Latin
Opuntia ficus-indica
pubens
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Dipsacales
Family
Cactaceae
Caprifoliaceae
Genus
Opuntia Mill
Sambucus
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Opuntieae
-
Subfamily
Opuntioideae
-
Number of Species
27
1
27800
👆🏻