Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Epiphyte
Origin
Mexico
Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America, South America, Argentina
Types
Opuntia ficus-indica
Bigleaf hydrangea, Hortensia, Smooth hydrangea, Oakleaf hydrangea, Annabelle
Number of Varieties
8100
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert
Forest edges, Hillside, Woods
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-128-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-5
12*1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Prostrate/Trailing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
240.00 cm15.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
180.00 cm15.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Red, Orange
Yellow green, Chartreuse
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
Reddish Plum
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Gray Green, Silver
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Light Green, Gray Green, Silver
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Light Green, Gray Green, Silver
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Gray Green, Silver, Gray
Shape
Leaf Shape
Globe shaped
Oblovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Medium
Type of Soil
Loamy, Sandy, Well drained
-
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
-
Soil Drainage
Well drained
-
Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
-
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
Seedlings, Stem Planting
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
-
In Summer
Lots of watering
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
-
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
-
Soil Drainage Capacity
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 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
Red blotch
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
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Aphids, Birds, Rodents
-
Allergy
-
Chest tightness, Diarrhea, Dizziness, Nausea, Vomiting
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Hangover
Fever, Kidney problems, Urinary tract problems
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Flowers, 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 Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Fruit, Fruit Tree, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Dried Flower/Everlasting, Hanging Basket, Tropical
Botanical Name
OPUNTIA ficus-indica
TILLANDSIA usneoides
Common Name
Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus
Graybeard, Spanish Moss
In Hindi
Opuntia ficus-indica
Hydrangea
In German
Opuntia ficus-indica
Hortensie
In French
Opuntia ficus-indica
Hortensia
In Spanish
Opuntia ficus-indica
Hortensia
In Greek
Φραγκοσυκιά
υδραγεία
In Portuguese
Opuntia ficus-indica
Hortênsia
In Polish
Opuntia ficus-indica
Hortensja
In Latin
Opuntia ficus-indica
Hibiscus
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
-
Class
Magnoliopsida
-
Order
Caryophyllales
-
Family
Cactaceae
Bromeliaceae
Genus
Opuntia Mill
-
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots
-
Tribe
Opuntieae
-
Subfamily
Opuntioideae
-
Number of Species
2500
1
27800
👆🏻