Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Flowering Plants, Herbs
Origin
Mexico
Hybrid origin
Types
Not Available
Not Available
Number of Varieties
Not Available
Habitat
Desert
moist forests, Mountains
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-12
4-9
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
Habit
Upright/Erect
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
Yellow, Red, Orange
Purple, Pink, Lavender
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Reddish Plum
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Green
Leaf Shape
Globe shaped
Pinnate
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Type of Soil
Loamy, Sandy, Well drained
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Late Spring, Summer
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
Cuttings, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Does not require lot of watering, Water once every two or three weeks, Water when soil is dry
Needs very little water
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune ocassionally, Remove dead leaves
cut main trunk every 5 years, Prune after flowering, Prune central stem, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply 5-10-5 amounts, Compost
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Caterpillars, Cochineal insect, Mealybugs, Nematodes, Red spider mite, Rodent, Root rot, Scale, Slugs, Snails, Thripes, Viruses, Worms
Nematodes, Red blotch, Trunk Rot
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Attracts
Aphids, Birds, Rodents
Butterflies, Leaf Hoppers
Allergy
Not Available
Itchiness, Not Available, Sore Throat
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beautification
Beauty Benefits
Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
Anti-ageing, Good Cleanser, Remove blemishes, Removes pimples
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Food for animals, Food for birds, soil stabilisation
Medicinal Uses
Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Hangover
Cough, Haemorrhages, Laxative, Obesity, Tonic
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Fruits, Leaves
Other Uses
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
Added to salads, Can be boiled and seasoned, pickled, Culinary use
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Fruit, Fruit Tree, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
Botanical Name
OPUNTIA ficus-indica
Averrhoa bilimbi
Common Name
Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus
Bilimbi, Mimbro
In Hindi
Opuntia ficus-indica
Bilimbi
In German
Opuntia ficus-indica
bilimbi
In French
Opuntia ficus-indica
bilimbi
In Spanish
Opuntia ficus-indica
bilimbi
In Greek
Φραγκοσυκιά
bilimbi
In Portuguese
Opuntia ficus-indica
bilimbi
In Polish
Opuntia ficus-indica
bilimbi
In Latin
Opuntia ficus-indica
Rondo Beardtongue
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Oxalidales
Family
Cactaceae
Oxalidaceae
Genus
Opuntia Mill
Averrhoa
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Opuntieae
Not Available
Subfamily
Opuntioideae
Not Available
Number of Species
Not Available
Importance of Barbary Fig and Bilimbi
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Barbary Fig and Bilimbi. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Barbary Fig and Bilimbi as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Barbary Fig is Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea and Hangover whereas of Bilimbi is Cough, Haemorrhages, Laxative, Obesity and Tonic. Barbary Fig has beauty benefits as follows: Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises and Remove blemishes while Bilimbi has beauty benefits as follows: Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises and Remove blemishes.
Compare Facts of Barbary Fig vs Bilimbi
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Barbary Fig vs Bilimbi and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Barbary Fig are Not Available whereas of Bilimbi have Itchiness, Not Available and Sore Throat respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Barbary Fig has showy fruits and Bilimbi has no showy fruits. Also Barbary Fig is not flowering and Bilimbi is not flowering . You can compare Barbary Fig and Bilimbi facts and facts of other plants too.