Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent, Flowering Plants
Herbs
Origin
Mexico
Mexico, Central America, South America
Types
Epiphyllum hybrids
Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants
Number of Varieties
2001
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Tropical rainforest
shrublands, tropical grasslands
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-11-9999
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
11-1
12-1
Sunset Zone
H1, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Weeping
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
15.20 cm45.70 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
6.78 cm50.80 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Red, Orange, Magenta, Orange Red
Green
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Purple, Red
Green, Light Green, Tan
Leaf Color in Spring
-
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
-
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
-
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Long linear and narrow
Lanceolate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
From Rhizomes, Leaf Cutting, Stem Planting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Water occasionally
Requires a lot of watering, Requires regular watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Pest Free
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
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
Medium
Foliage Sheen
-
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Hummingbirds
Bees, Flies
Allergy
-
allergic reaction, Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Detoxification, Insect Bites, Stomach pain, Treat Parasitic Intestinal Worms
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Leaves, Seeds
Other Uses
Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant
Pesticide, The essential oil is used as insect repellent
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Hanging Basket, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Container, Herb / Vegetable
Botanical Name
DISOCACTUS ackermannii
CHENOPODIUM ambrosioides
Common Name
Orchid Cactus
Mexican Tea
In Hindi
आर्किड कैक्टस
Dysphania ambrosioides
In German
Orchid cactus
Mexikanischer Drüsengänsefuß
In French
Cactus Orchid
Épazote
In Spanish
cactus orquídea
Dysphania ambrosioides
In Greek
ορχιδέα κάκτος
Μεξικού τσάι
In Portuguese
Orchid cactus
Dysphania ambrosioides
In Polish
Orchid kaktus
Komosa piżmowa
In Latin
Orchid cactus
Dysphania ambrosioides
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Embryophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Caryophyllales
Family
Cactaceae
Chenopodiaceae
Genus
Disocactus
Dysphania
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Hylocereeae
Dysphanieae
Subfamily
Cactoideae
Chenopodioideae
Number of Species
2030
1
27800
👆🏻