Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Cactus or Succulent
  
Cactus or Succulent
  
Origin
North America, Southwestern United States, Mexico
  
Mexico
  
Types
Echinocactus parryi, Echinocactus texensis
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Desert, Gravels, Sandy areas
  
Desert
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-15
  
8-12
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
  
12-5
  
Sunset Zone
12, 13, 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
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Yellow, Magenta
  
Yellow, Red, Orange
  
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Fruit Color
Yellow
  
Reddish Plum
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Not Available
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Not Available
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Not Available
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Not Available
  
Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Succulent
  
Globe shaped
  
Thorns
Yes
  
Yes
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Slow
  
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
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
  
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought, Heat Tolerance, Shade areas
  
Drought, Salt
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings
  
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
  
Plant Maintenance
Low
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires watering in the growing season, Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
  
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
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune ocassionally, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
fertilize in summer, Potassium
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Mealybugs, Spider mites
  
Aphids, Caterpillars, Cochineal insect, Mealybugs, Nematodes, Red spider mite, Rodent, Root rot, Scale, Slugs, Snails, Thripes, Viruses, Worms
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Full Sun, Heat Tolerance, Shade areas
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Bold
  
Bold
  
Foliage Sheen
Not Available
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
No
  
Attracts
Insects, Mealybugs, Spider Mites
  
Aphids, Birds, Rodents
  
Allergy
Skin cuts
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
  
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
No Beauty Benefits
  
Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
  
Edible Uses
No
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for insects, Very little waste
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
No Medicinal Use
  
Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Hangover
  
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
  
Flowers, Leaves
  
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, 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
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
  
Container, Feature Plant, Fruit, Fruit Tree, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
  
Botanical Name
ECHINOCACTUS
  
OPUNTIA ficus-indica
  
Common Name
Golden barrel cactus, Golden ball
  
Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus
  
In Hindi
echinocactus
  
Opuntia ficus-indica
  
In German
echinocactus
  
Opuntia ficus-indica
  
In French
echinocactus
  
Opuntia ficus-indica
  
In Spanish
echinocactus
  
Opuntia ficus-indica
  
In Greek
Echinocactus
  
Φραγκοσυκιά
  
In Portuguese
Echinocactus
  
Opuntia ficus-indica
  
In Polish
Echinocactus
  
Opuntia ficus-indica
  
In Latin
Echinocactus
  
Opuntia ficus-indica
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Tracheophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Caryophyllales
  
Caryophyllales
  
Family
Cactaceae
  
Cactaceae
  
Genus
Echinocactus
  
Opuntia Mill
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Cacteae
  
Opuntieae
  
Subfamily
Cactoideae
  
Opuntioideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available