Life Span
Perennial
Biennial or Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Vegetable
Origin
North America, South America, Brazil
Europe
Types
Peanut cactus
Leaf beet, Seakettle beet, Spinach beet
Number of Varieties
1286
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert, Sandy areas, Semi desert
Cultivated Beds
USDA Hardiness Zone
12-154-8
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
12-1
Sunset Zone
12, 13, 16, 17, 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
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.00 cm30.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
15.20 cm30.50 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Yellow, Red, Purple, Orange, Rose
Red, Green
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Orange Red
Tan
Leaf Color in Spring
-
Dark Green, Green, Orange, Red, White, Yellow
Leaf Color in Summer
-
White, Yellow, Red, Green, Orange, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
-
White, Yellow, Red, Green, Orange, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Heart-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
-
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Slow
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Full Sun, Heat Tolerance, Rocky Soil
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Water once every two or three weeks, Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
Average Water Needs
In Summer
Average Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Average Water
Moderate
In Winter
Less Watering
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Pruning
Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
fertilize in growing season, fertilize in summer, Potassium
Apply 10-10-10 amount
Pests and Diseases
Mealybugs, Scale
Cercospora leaf spot, Damping off, Darkling beetles, Downy mildew
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Full Sun, Heat Tolerance, Rocky Soil
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
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
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
-
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Hummingbirds
Insects
Allergy
Skin cuts
dark circles, Diarrhea, Runny nose, Vomiting, wheezing
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Ground Cover
Beauty Benefits
-
Moisturizing, Remove blemishes, Slow downs aging, Speed hair growth
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for insects, Versatility, Very little waste
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Burns, Heals minor burns, Heart problems, High blood pressure, Wounds
Antitumor, Carminative, Haemostatic, Stomachic, Tonic
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Leaves, Root
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Cultivated for fodder, Eaten as a pot herb, Used to make juice
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
Bedding Plant, Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
ECHINOPSIS
BETA vulgaris ssp. cicla
Common Name
Hedgehog Cactus, Sea urchin cactus
Swiss Chard
In Hindi
हाथी कैक्टस
Swiss Chard
In German
Igel Kaktus
Swiss Chard
In French
hérisson cactus
Chard suisse
In Spanish
cactus de erizo
Acelgas
In Greek
κάκτος σκαντζόχοιρος
Σέσκουλο
In Portuguese
hedgehog cactus
Acelga suíça
In Polish
jeż kaktus
Boćwina
In Latin
cactus
Swiss Chard
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Caryophyllales
Family
Cactaceae
Chenopodiaceae
Genus
Echinopsis
Beta
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Trichocereeae
Cyclolobeae
Subfamily
Cactoideae
Betoideae
Number of Species
20003
1
27800
👆🏻