Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Grass
Cactus or Succulent
Origin
United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Texas
Mexico
Types
Virginia water horehound
Opuntia ficus-indica
Number of Varieties
-8
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Along Railroads, Barren waste areas, Hill prairies, Mined land, Pastures, Roadsides, Rocky glades, Sandy areas, Upland, Upland clay prairies, Upland sand prairies, Upland sandy savannas, Upland savannas, Upland soils
Desert
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-88-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9 - 1
12-5
Sunset Zone
-
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
60.96 cm240.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.48 cm180.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
-
Yellow, Red, Orange
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
-
Reddish Plum
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Orange, Tan, Brown
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Tan, Sandy Brown
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Globe shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loamy, Sandy, Well drained
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Fall, Fall
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Pollution, Drought
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Divison, Root Division, Seedlings
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Medium
Does not require lot of watering, Water once every two or three weeks, Water when soil is dry
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
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune ocassionally, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Aphids, Caterpillars, Cochineal insect, Mealybugs, Nematodes, Red spider mite, Rodent, Root rot, Scale, Slugs, Snails, Thripes, Viruses, Worms
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Insignificant
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
Fine
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
Sometimes
Sometimes
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
Aphids, Birds, Rodents
Allergy
Pollen
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for birds, Wildlife
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Back pain, Diarrhea, Frostbite, Itching, Piles, Sore Eyes, Sore throat
Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Hangover
Part of Plant Used
Root, Seeds, Stem
Flowers, Leaves
Other Uses
Cattle Fodder, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
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
Dried Flower/Everlasting, Wildflower
Container, Feature Plant, Fruit, Fruit Tree, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
ANDROPOGON virginicus
OPUNTIA ficus-indica
Common Name
Broomsedge, Broomsedge Bluestem
Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus
In Hindi
Broomsedge grass
Opuntia ficus-indica
In German
broomsedge Gras
Opuntia ficus-indica
In French
broomsedge herbe
Opuntia ficus-indica
In Spanish
hierba Broomsedge
Opuntia ficus-indica
In Greek
Broomsedge γρασίδι
Φραγκοσυκιά
In Portuguese
Broomsedge grama
Opuntia ficus-indica
In Polish
Broomsedge trawy
Opuntia ficus-indica
In Latin
Broomsedge herba
Opuntia ficus-indica
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Cyperales
Caryophyllales
Family
Poaceae
Cactaceae
Genus
Andropogon
Opuntia Mill
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Tribe
Andropogoneae
Opuntieae
Subfamily
Panicoideae
Opuntioideae
Number of Species
12
1
27800
👆🏻