Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Grass
  
Cactus or Succulent
  
Origin
Africa, Middle Africa, Southern Africa, Madagascar
  
North America, South America, Brazil
  
Types
Not Available
  
Peanut cactus
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Grassland, Sandy areas
  
Desert, Sandy areas, Semi desert
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-11
  
12-15
  
AHS Heat Zone
12 - 8
  
12-10
  
Sunset Zone
H1, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
12, 13, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Cushion/Mound-forming
  
Upright/Erect
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Burgundy, Pink, Rose
  
White, Yellow, Red, Purple, Orange, Rose
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Not Available
  
Fruit Color
Light Pink, Tan, White
  
Green, Orange Red
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Blue Green, Gray Green
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Blue Green, Gray Green
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Purple, Gray Green
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Grass like
  
Succulent
  
Thorns
No
  
Yes
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Not Available
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Slow
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
  
Spring
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought, Dry soil, Full Sun, Heat Tolerance, Rocky Soil
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
  
Container, Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Rooted stem cutting
  
Grafting, Seedlings, Stem Planting
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Low
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Needs less watering
  
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
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Average Water
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Average Water
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Less Watering
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Pruning
No need to prune, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply N-P-K
  
fertilize in growing season, fertilize in summer, Potassium
  
Pests and Diseases
Disease free, Red blotch
  
Mealybugs, Scale
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Shade areas
  
Drought, Dry soil, Full Sun, Heat Tolerance, Rocky Soil
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Fine
  
Bold
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Not Available
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Not Available
  
Hummingbirds
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
Skin cuts
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Bog Garden, Ground Cover
  
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
No Beauty Benefits
  
Edible Uses
No
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification, Food for insects, Versatility, Very little waste
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Not Available
  
Burns, Heals minor burns, Heart problems, High blood pressure, Wounds
  
Part of Plant Used
Not Available
  
Leaves
  
Other Uses
Not Available
  
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Dried Flower / Everlasting, Bedding Plant, Cutflower, Edging, Mixed Border, Tropical
  
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
  
Botanical Name
MELINIS nerviglumis
  
ECHINOPSIS
  
Common Name
Ruby Grass, Zizka
  
Hedgehog Cactus, Sea urchin cactus
  
In Hindi
Zizka
  
हाथी कैक्टस
  
In German
Zizka
  
Igel Kaktus
  
In French
Zizka
  
hérisson cactus
  
In Spanish
Zizka
  
cactus de erizo
  
In Greek
Zizka
  
κάκτος σκαντζόχοιρος
  
In Portuguese
Zizka
  
hedgehog cactus
  
In Polish
Zizka
  
jeż kaktus
  
In Latin
Žižka
  
cactus
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Tracheophyta
  
Tracheophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Poales
  
Caryophyllales
  
Family
Poaceae
  
Cactaceae
  
Genus
Melinis
  
Echinopsis
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Paniceae
  
Trichocereeae
  
Subfamily
Panicoideae
  
Cactoideae