Life Span
Perennial
Annual or Biennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Vegetable
Origin
Mexico
Europe
Types
Opuntia ficus-indica
Amber globe, Baby bunch turnips, Purple top
Number of Varieties
830
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert
Fields, Vegetable Gardens
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-126-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-5
9-3
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Rosette/Stemless
Plant Size
Minimum Height
240.00 cm25.40 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
180.00 cm20.30 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Red, Orange
Yellow
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Reddish Plum
Sienna, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
White, Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
White, Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
White, Green, Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Globe shaped
Long Broad
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
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
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
Seedlings
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, Requires regular watering
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
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
Alternaria Leaf Spot, Anthracnose, Cercospora leaf spot, Downy mildew
Plant Tolerance
Drought
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
-
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
Sometimes
Sometimes
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Aphids, Birds, Rodents
Beet armyworms, Caterpillar, white worms
Allergy
-
angioedema, Oral Allergy, Urticaria
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
Good for skin and hair
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Hangover
Bone strength, Cancer, Cardiovascular problems, Lung Problems
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Leaves, Shoots
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
Food for animals, Used as a vegetable, Used in salads
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Fruit, Fruit Tree, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Botanical Name
OPUNTIA ficus-indica
BRASSICA rapa 'Hakurei'
Common Name
Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus
Turnip
In Hindi
Opuntia ficus-indica
शलजम
In German
Opuntia ficus-indica
Rübe
In French
Opuntia ficus-indica
Navet
In Spanish
Opuntia ficus-indica
Nabo
In Greek
Φραγκοσυκιά
Γογγύλι
In Portuguese
Opuntia ficus-indica
Nabo
In Polish
Opuntia ficus-indica
Rzepa
In Latin
Opuntia ficus-indica
rapa
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Brassicales
Family
Cactaceae
Brassicaceae
Genus
Opuntia Mill
Brassica
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Opuntieae
Brassiceae
Subfamily
Opuntioideae
-
Number of Species
2-
1
27800
👆🏻