Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Cactus or Succulent
Origin
Melanesia
Mexico
Types
-
Opuntia ficus-indica
Number of Varieties
128
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Subtropical climates, Tropical regions
Desert
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-158-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
12-5
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
240.00 cm240.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
180.00 cm180.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Red, Green, Copper
Yellow, Red, Orange
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
-
Reddish Plum
Leaf Color in Spring
White, Yellow, Green, Purple, Orange, Chartreuse, Dark Green, Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Copper, Bronze
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
White, Yellow, Green, Purple, Orange, Chartreuse, Dark Green, Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Copper, Bronze
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
White, Yellow, Green, Purple, Orange, Chartreuse, Dark Green, Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Copper, Bronze
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
White, Yellow, Green, Purple, Orange, Dark Green, Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Copper, Bronze
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Reniform
Globe shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, 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
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Variety of soil types
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Stem Cutting
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
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
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
slow-release fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Mites, Soft scales
Aphids, Caterpillars, Cochineal insect, Mealybugs, Nematodes, Red spider mite, Rodent, Root rot, Scale, Slugs, Snails, Thripes, Viruses, Worms
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Variety of soil types
Drought
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Bold
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Aphids, Birds, Rodents
Allergy
bronchial asthma, Rhinoconjunctivitis
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Skin Problems
Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Abdominal Disease, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Cough, Headache, Kidney problems
Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Hangover
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Twigs
Flowers, Leaves
Other Uses
Basketary, 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
Bedding Plant, Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Container, Feature Plant, Fruit, Fruit Tree, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
ACALYPHA wilkesiana
OPUNTIA ficus-indica
Common Name
Copperleaf
Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus
In Hindi
Copperleaf
Opuntia ficus-indica
In German
Copperleaf
Opuntia ficus-indica
In French
Copperleaf
Opuntia ficus-indica
In Spanish
copperleaf
Opuntia ficus-indica
In Greek
Copperleaf
Φραγκοσυκιά
In Portuguese
Copperleaf
Opuntia ficus-indica
In Polish
CopperLeaf
Opuntia ficus-indica
In Latin
Copperleaf
Opuntia ficus-indica
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Euphorbiales
Caryophyllales
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Cactaceae
Genus
Acalypha
Opuntia Mill
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Tribe
Acalypheae
Opuntieae
Subfamily
Acalyphoideae
Opuntioideae
Number of Species
4622
1
27800
👆🏻