Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Vegetable
Types
Opuntia ficus-indica
-
Habitat
Desert
agricultural areas, Moist Soils
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-12
4-10
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 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
Upright/Erect
Flower Color
Yellow, Red, Orange
Yellow
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Reddish Plum
Sienna, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
White, Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
White, Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
White, Green, Dark Green
Leaf Shape
Globe shaped
Oval
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Loamy, Sandy, Well drained
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Spring, Summer
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
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
Allow to dry out slightly between watering, Do not water the foliage, Keep the Soil well drained
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
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune ocassionally, Remove dead leaves
Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
8-8-8, since leafy plants, use higher nitrogen content fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Caterpillars, Cochineal insect, Mealybugs, Nematodes, Red spider mite, Rodent, Root rot, Scale, Slugs, Snails, Thripes, Viruses, Worms
Aphids, Beetles, Cabbage looper, Downy mildew, Fusarium leaf spot, Rust
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Full Sun, Humidity, Shallow soil
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Bold
Medium
Invasive
Sometimes
Sometimes
Attracts
Aphids, Birds, Rodents
Caterpillar, Mites
Allergy
-
Diarrhea, Dizziness, Nausea
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
Anti-ageing, Hair Conditioner, Skin cleanser
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Fixes Nitrogen, Food for animals
Medicinal Uses
Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Hangover
Aging, Anti-oxidant, Digestion problems, Eliminate toxins, Nutritive, Obesity, Rich in Potassium
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Leaf Stalks, 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
Culinary use, Sauces, Used to promote healthy blood flow during menstruation
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, Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Wildflower
Botanical Name
OPUNTIA ficus-indica
BRASSICA rapa( Chinensis Group)
Common Name
Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus
Bok Choy, Chinese Cabbage, Choy Sum, Pak Choi
In Hindi
Opuntia ficus-indica
choy sum
In German
Opuntia ficus-indica
choy sum
In French
Opuntia ficus-indica
choy sum
In Spanish
Opuntia ficus-indica
choy sum
In Greek
Φραγκοσυκιά
choy sum
In Portuguese
Opuntia ficus-indica
choy sum
In Polish
Opuntia ficus-indica
choy sum
In Latin
Opuntia ficus-indica
choy sum
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Capparales
Family
Cactaceae
Brassicaceae
Genus
Opuntia Mill
Brassica
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Importance of Barbary Fig and Choy Sum
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Barbary Fig and Choy Sum. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Barbary Fig and Choy Sum 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 Choy Sum is Aging, Anti-oxidant, Digestion problems, Eliminate toxins, Nutritive, Obesity and Rich in Potassium. Barbary Fig has beauty benefits as follows: Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises and Remove blemishes while Choy Sum has beauty benefits as follows: Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises and Remove blemishes.
Compare Facts of Barbary Fig vs Choy Sum
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 Choy Sum 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 whereas of Choy Sum have Diarrhea, Dizziness and Nausea respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Barbary Fig has showy fruits and Choy Sum has no showy fruits. Also Barbary Fig is not flowering and Choy Sum is not flowering . You can compare Barbary Fig and Choy Sum facts and facts of other plants too.