Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Cactus or Succulent
  
Tree
  
Origin
Mexico
  
India, Nepal, China
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Desert
  
Mountains
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-12
  
5-7
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-5
  
7-5
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17
  
Habit
Upright/Erect
  
Pyramidal
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Height
1,220.00 cm
  
33
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Yellow, Red, Orange
  
Tan, Brown
  
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Reddish Plum
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
  
Yellow green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
  
Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
  
Yellow
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Globe shaped
  
Cordiform
  
Thorns
Yes
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Medium
  
Medium
  
Type of Soil
Loamy, Sandy, Well drained
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Average
  
Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
  
Early Spring
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
  
Not Available
  
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
  
Grafting, Stem Cutting
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Does not require lot of watering, Water once every two or three weeks, Water when soil is dry
  
Requires watering in the growing season
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Average Water
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Average
  
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 damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize in late fall, slow-release fertilizers
  
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Caterpillars, Cochineal insect, Mealybugs, Nematodes, Red spider mite, Rodent, Root rot, Scale, Slugs, Snails, Thripes, Viruses, Worms
  
Honey fungus, Leaves with brown tip, Phytophthora Root Rot, Powdery mildew, Verticillium Wilt
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Dry Conditions, waterlogging, Wet Site
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Insignificant
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Not Available
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
Yes
  
Foliage Texture
Bold
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Sometimes
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
No
  
Attracts
Aphids, Birds, Rodents
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
  
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Beauty Benefits
Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
  
Weightloss
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Hangover
  
anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, Antioxidants, Antiseptic, Carminative
  
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
  
Bark, 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
  
Used in construction, Wood is used in construction
  
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
  
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
  
Botanical Name
OPUNTIA ficus-indica
  
BETULA utilis
  
Common Name
Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus
  
Himalayan Birch
  
In Hindi
Opuntia ficus-indica
  
हिमालय सन्टी
  
In German
Opuntia ficus-indica
  
Himalaya-Birke
  
In French
Opuntia ficus-indica
  
bouleau de l'Himalaya
  
In Spanish
Opuntia ficus-indica
  
abedul del Himalaya
  
In Greek
Φραγκοσυκιά
  
Himalayan σημύδας
  
In Portuguese
Opuntia ficus-indica
  
bétula Himalaia
  
In Polish
Opuntia ficus-indica
  
Himalayan brzoza
  
In Latin
Opuntia ficus-indica
  
Birch Himalayan
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Tracheophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Caryophyllales
  
Fagales
  
Family
Cactaceae
  
Betulaceae
  
Genus
Opuntia Mill
  
Betula
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Tribe
Opuntieae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Opuntioideae
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Importance of Barbary Fig and Himalayan Birch
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Barbary Fig and Himalayan Birch. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Barbary Fig and Himalayan Birch 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 Himalayan Birch is anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, Antioxidants, Antiseptic and Carminative. Barbary Fig has beauty benefits as follows: Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises and Remove blemishes while Himalayan Birch has beauty benefits as follows: Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises and Remove blemishes.
Compare Facts of Barbary Fig vs Himalayan Birch
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 Himalayan Birch 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 Himalayan Birch have Not Available respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Barbary Fig has showy fruits and Himalayan Birch has no showy fruits. Also Barbary Fig is not flowering and Himalayan Birch is not flowering . You can compare Barbary Fig and Himalayan Birch facts and facts of other plants too.