Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Flowering Plants, Fruits, Herbs, Shrubs
Origin
Mexico
Australia, South America
Types
Opuntia ficus-indica
Adams Elderberry, Black Beauty Elderberry, Black Lace Elderberry, Johns Elderberry, Nova Elderberry
Habitat
Desert
Farms, Homesteads, Near organic waste disposal
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-12
4-8
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17
Habit
Upright/Erect
Upright/Erect
Flower Color
Yellow, Red, Orange
White
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
Reddish Plum
Purple, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Yellow green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
-
Leaf Shape
Globe shaped
Compound
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Early Spring
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Part sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Medium
Type of Soil
Loamy, Sandy, Well drained
Loamy, Sandy, Well drained
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Slightly Acidic
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Early Spring, Spring
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Pollution
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
Grafting, 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
Requires regular watering, Use Mulches to help prevent water loss during hot and windy weather
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Slightly Acidic
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loamy, Sandy, Well drained
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Part sun
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune ocassionally, Remove dead leaves
Cut or pinch the stems, No pruning needed in the early stages, Prune for shortening long shoots, Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune in winter, Prune ocassionally, Remove deadheads
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Caterpillars, Cochineal insect, Mealybugs, Nematodes, Red spider mite, Rodent, Root rot, Scale, Slugs, Snails, Thripes, Viruses, Worms
Canker, Leaf spot, Powdery mildew, Stem spot, Tomato Ringspot Virus
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Invasive
Sometimes
Sometimes
Attracts
Aphids, Birds, Rodents
Birds
Allergy
-
Diarrhea, Nausea, Vomiting
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
-
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Hangover
constipation, Fever, Heart problems, High cholestrol, HIV/AIDS, Nerve pain, swine flu
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Flowers, Fruits
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
-
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
-
Botanical Name
OPUNTIA ficus-indica
Sambucus nigra
Common Name
Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus
Elderberry
In Hindi
Opuntia ficus-indica
Elderberry
In German
Opuntia ficus-indica
Holunderbeere
In French
Opuntia ficus-indica
Sureau
In Spanish
Opuntia ficus-indica
Saúco
In Greek
Φραγκοσυκιά
Elderberry
In Portuguese
Opuntia ficus-indica
Sabugueiro
In Polish
Opuntia ficus-indica
Bez czarny
In Latin
Opuntia ficus-indica
Elderberry
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Dipsacales
Family
Cactaceae
Adoxaceae
Genus
Opuntia Mill
Sambucus
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Importance of Barbary Fig and Elderberry
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Barbary Fig and Elderberry. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Barbary Fig and Elderberry 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 Elderberry is constipation, Fever, Heart problems, High cholestrol, HIV/AIDS, Nerve pain and swine flu. Barbary Fig has beauty benefits as follows: Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises and Remove blemishes while Elderberry has beauty benefits as follows: Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises and Remove blemishes.
Compare Facts of Barbary Fig vs Elderberry
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 Elderberry 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 Elderberry have Diarrhea, Nausea and Vomiting respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Barbary Fig has showy fruits and Elderberry has no showy fruits. Also Barbary Fig is not flowering and Elderberry is flowering. You can compare Barbary Fig and Elderberry facts and facts of other plants too.