What is
Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus
Cactus or Succulent
Origin
South America
Southern Africa
Types
Gymnocalycium alboareolatum , Gymnocalycium amerhauseri , Gymnocalycium andreae
Hoodia albispina, Hoodia flava, Hoodia bainii
Number of Varieties
5425
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert, Semi desert
Desert
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-1212-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
12-10
Sunset Zone
13,21,22,23,24
12, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Clump-Forming
Information
Plant Size
Minimum Height
12.50 cm30.50 cm
0.54
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
8.00 cm30.50 cm
0.1
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
creamy white, Light Pink, Not Available, Pink
Red, Pink, Tan
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
Not Available
Fruit Color
Pink
Not Available
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Not Available
Blue Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Not Available
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Blue Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Blue Green, Gray Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Not Applicable
Not Available
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Season
Plant Season
All year
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Part sun, Partial shade, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Very Slow
Type of Soil
Sand, Sandy
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Sandy
Well drained
Bloom Time
All year
Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions, Dry soil, Full Sun, Heat Tolerance
Drought
Care
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Offsets
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Do not water excessively
Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Average Water
In Winter
Average Water
Once a week
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Sandy
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Dry
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Part sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Not Available
No pruning needed in the early stages
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, can go long without fertilizers
No fertilizers needed
Pests and Diseases
Mealy bugs, Root rot
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Dry soil, Full Sun, Heat Tolerance
Drought, Full Sun, Shade areas
Facts
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
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ants, Mealybugs
Flies, Insects
Allergy
Unknown
Dry Mouth
Benefits
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Ornamental use
Not Available
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
Weightloss
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for animals, Food for birds, Food for insects
Food for insects
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Not Available
Weight loss
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Fruits
Stem
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes
Can be made into a herbal tea, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Showy Tree
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
Scientific Name
Botanical Name
GYMNOCALYCIUM
Hoodia gordonii
Common Name
Chin Cactus
ǁhoba, Ghaap
In Hindi
Gymnocalycium
Hoodia
In German
Gymnocalycium
Hoodia
In French
Gymnocalycium
Hoodia
In Spanish
Gymnocalycium
Hoodia
In Greek
Gymnocalycium
Hoodia
In Portuguese
Gymnocalycium
Hoodia
In Polish
Gymnocalycium
Hoodia
In Latin
Gymnocalycium
Hoodia
Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Gentianales
Family
Cactaceae
Apocynaceae
Genus
Gymnocalycium
Hoodia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Trichocereeae
Stapeliae
Subfamily
Cactoideae
Asclepiadoideae
Number of Species
5425
1
27800
👆🏻